STAND. COM. REP. NO. 519-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1623

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1623 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Make the registration and registration renewal of methadone clinics and substance use disorder services clinics as clinics for handling controlled substances contingent upon being located at least seven hundred fifty feet away from specific protected areas; and

(2) Expand the prohibition on promoting a controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, and public housing projects or complexes to include group child care centers, group child care homes, public recreation centers, and youth services centers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety, Habilitat, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that expanding the areas in which the promotion of a controlled substance is prohibited to include group child care centers, group child care homes, public recreation centers, and youth services centers and prohibiting methadone treatment programs from operating within seven hundred fifty feet of certain protected areas has certain benefits for public health and safety. However, your Committee recognizes the concerns raised in testimony that this measure may inadvertently impact health care clinics, such as veterinary clinics and dental clinics, that administer or dispense controlled substance to patients.

Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the requirement that the registration and registration renewal of clinics for handling controlled substances, including methadone clinics and substance use disorder services clinics, be contingent upon being located at least seven hundred fifty feet away from specific protected areas;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1623, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1623, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair