STAND. COM. REP. NO. 680

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1383

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1383 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to abolish the Board of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds the Board of Health's advisory role has been made redundant by the evolution of state and federal regulations, community standards of practice, grant guidance, and legislative oversight. Furthermore, as the Department of Health's scope expanded to include public health, behavioral health, and environmental protection, it became too complex for meaningful advisement by a generalist board like the Board of Health. Your Committee notes that the Board of Health has been vacant for several years and abolishing it will have little practical effect except to reduce the administrative load of the Department of Health.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1383 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair