STAND. COM. REP. NO. 514

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1112

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1112 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VIRAL HEPATITIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Hepatitis Prevention Program within the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hep Free Hawaii; Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that hepatitis B and C viral infections are associated with earlier deaths and higher death rates in the State. Your Committee further finds that existing strategies such as universal hepatitis screening and immunization; culturally-based care coordination; and safe and effective treatments, such as the hepatitis C cure, can be used to eliminate hepatitis B and C in Hawaii. Your Committee believes that providing funding and establishing positions to address hepatitis B and C, as proposed by this measure, will allow the State to scale up its existing work for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis B and C in Hawaii. Your Committee notes that funding the Department of Health's efforts now is important as the current threats to federal public health funding endanger the Department's existing hepatitis elimination efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Hepatitis Prevention Program is for the prevention of hepatitis B and hepatitis C;

(2) Changing the number of positions to an unspecified number;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $545,000 and the establishment of five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1112, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1112, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair