STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1774

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 59

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 59, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING ONGOING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE VIRAL HEPATITIS TYPES A, B, AND C IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize and support ongoing collaborative efforts by state agencies and private organizations to implement the "Hep Free 2030" statewide strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis types A, B, and C in Hawaii.

More specifically, this measure requests that the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Homelessness, and Senate Committee on Health, convene two joint informational briefings after the completion of the Regular Session of 2021, but before the commencement of the Regular Session of 2022, to:

(1) Assess the status of, and progress made toward, implementation of the "Hep Free 2030" statewide strategy; and

(2) Receive proposed legislation that the Executive Director of Hep Free Hawaii is urged to submit for the Legislature to consider during the Regular Session of 2022.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Hep Free Hawaii; Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center; Hawaii Learning Groups, LLC; and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that state agencies and private organizations are engaged in multiple measures aimed at eliminating and reducing viral hepatitis in the State, especially among underserved and at-risk communities. Your Committee further finds that continued coordination and ongoing efforts are needed to further implement the "Hep Free 2030" statewide strategy, and that the joint informational briefings requested by this measure are an important component of this collaborative endeavor to improve public health.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 59, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair