STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2341

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2877

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2877 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CANCER CENTER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the construction of the Hawai‘i early phase cancer clinical trials program at the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and eight individuals.

Your Committees find that early phase clinical trials offer patients with cancer access to novel treatments to improve the quality and quantity of life, especially when having exhausted standard treatments. Because Hawai‘i does not currently have an early phase clinical trial program, cancer patients living in Hawai‘i must travel to the mainland or other locations, at significant personal expense, and be apart from their families and support systems for extended periods while undergoing treatment.

Your Committees further find that the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center has the goal to establish a program committed to bringing novel early phase trials to Hawai‘i for the benefit of cancer patients throughout the State. The program will focus on phase I and other early phase cancer trials and complement drug discovery programs already in place within the Cancer Center. It is anticipated that the program operating costs will be covered by grants and clinical trial medical and pharmaceutical partners.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2877 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair