STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1723-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.C.R. No. 226

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 226 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PROVIDE A REPORT OF ALL CONFIRMED AND SUSPECTED CASES OF RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE STATE AND SHARE RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT WITH OTHER STATES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Department of Health provide a report to the Legislature of all confirmed and suspected cases of rat lungworm disease that originated in the State, provide long-term follow up of patients pursuant to recommendations of the Rat Lungworm Working Group, and establish a registry of de-identified data of rat lungworm cases.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, The University of Hawaii at Hilo, John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and one concerned individual provided testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health provided comments.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Health expressed concerns that:

(1) Complying with this measure may require the Department of Health to offer testing to other states and thus require additional personnel and resources;

(2) Conducting long-term follow up of patients would require additional personnel and resources; and

(3) Much of what is requested in this measure is duplicative of ongoing efforts.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 226 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair