STAND. COM. REP. NO. 533

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 663

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 663 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SOLEMN COVENANT OF THE STATES TO AWARD PRIZES FOR CURING DISEASES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to enact an interstate compact to award prizes for the curing of diseases.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Primary Care Association and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committees find that by pooling the potential savings of as many states as possible to generate a sufficient financial incentive to develop cures for some of the world's most devastating diseases, the states will lessen their reliance on the prerogatives of the federal government and expedite medical breakthroughs. This measure will incentivize private organizations to research cures, treatments, and therapies for diseases for which there is little knowledge and for which private organizations have no incentive to research.

Your Committees have amended this measure by 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 Health and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 663, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 663, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair