STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3461
Honolulu, Hawaii
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
President of the Senate
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1891, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to reestablish and fund one full-time equivalent permanent veterinary medical officer position within the Department of Health.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, and four individuals.
Your Committees find that veterinarians go through unique training, and that a public health veterinarian within the Department of Health would be essential in promoting disease control responsibilities and serving as a liaison to animal and wildlife health experts and other non-traditional public health partners, along with serving as the department's subject matter expert, during an outbreak of a zoonotic disease.
Your Committees further find that the Department of Health had a public health veterinarian that oversaw the production of public health publications distributed to Hawaii physicians and veterinarians. Your Committees note that these publications could be coupled with continuing medical education to help ensure the continued competence of the State's health care workforce.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $110,000, with $95,000 used toward the reestablishment of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent veterinary medical officer position in the department of health and $15,000 for operational costs;
(2) Inserting
an effective date of July 1, 2020; and
(3) Making
technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and
consistency.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1891, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1891, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,
________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair |
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________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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