CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 16-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2247

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OPIOID ANTAGONISTS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to authorize pharmacists to prescribe and dispense opioid antagonists to:

(1) An individual who is a risk for an opioid overdose; or

(2) A family member or caregiver of an individual who is at risk of an opioid overdose,

regardless of whether the individual has evidence of a previous prescription for an opioid antagonist from a practitioner authorized to prescribe opioids and without the need for a written, approved collaborative agreement.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the nationwide opioid epidemic continues to result in an alarming number of opioid overdose related deaths. Your Committee on Conference further finds that these deaths are often preventable via timely administration of an opioid antagonist, such as naloxone. Your Committee on Conference also finds that pharmacists are well-situated to provide education about and access to opioid antagonists. Your Committee on Conference also notes that this measure addresses objectives outlined in the Hawaii Opioid Action Plan pertaining to prevention and pharmacy-based interventions.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Reverting to language used in the S.D. 1 version to allow opioid antagonists to be prescribed and dispensed in the name of the individual who is to be treated or an "Opioid Antagonist Recipient" or "OAR";

(2) Making it effective upon approval; and

(3) Removing the sunset date.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair
____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI Co-Chair