STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1247

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1300

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1300, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CANCER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, known as the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, for a multiethnic cohort study focusing on the social determinants of health, lifestyles, environmental exposures, and resilience factors of Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos, including an analysis of the health effects and risks of individuals living in close proximity to both landfills in Nanakuli, Oahu.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, The Queen's Health Systems, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and thirteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that while the overall cancer incidence and mortality rates have decreased in the State over the last decade, the disparities between ethnic populations continue to be of concern, particularly with Native Hawaiians, who continue to have the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates among men and women, and Filipino women, who have the highest incidences of ovarian and thyroid cancer. Your Committee further finds that identifying the root causes of these disparities, including social determinants of health, will improve health outcomes for these chronically underserved populations. Your Committee also finds that the University of Hawaii Cancer Center is uniquely positioned to conduct a study examining the social determinants of health, lifestyles, environmental exposures, and resilience factors of Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos. This measure appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center to conduct this critical research, improving cancer disparities and promoting health equity in these populations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that requires the appropriated funds to be matched by federal funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis before expenditure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1300, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair