CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 68

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1431

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1431, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Hepatitis Prevention Program within the Department of Health;

(2) Require the Department of Health to develop and implement an educational program to inform the public on how to identify and prevent hepatitis and aid in its early diagnosis;

(3) Require the Department of Health to develop a comprehensive statewide hepatitis prevention plan;

(4) Repeal outdated provisions related to hepatitis; and

(5) Appropriate funds and establish positions for the Hepatitis Prevention Program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Department of Health reports that hepatitis B and C viral infections are associated with earlier deaths and higher death rates in the State. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the lack of public health resources dedicated to viral hepatitis has contributed to higher death rates in the State, especially for vulnerable communities such as Asian and Pacific Islander residents. Your Committee on Conference notes that to address the burden of viral hepatitis in the State, the Department of Health has successfully leveraged community and state partnerships to convene the "Hep Free 2030: The Hawaiʻi Hepatitis Elimination Strategy 2020-2030", the statewide strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis that can serve as a model for the Department of Health's Hepatitis Prevention Program. This measure provides a modest investment to make a significant impact on a preventable, treatable health issue in the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $545,000 for the fiscal biennium for the establishment and implementation of the Hepatitis Prevention Program, including the establishment within the Department of Health of:

(A) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Program Specialist V position;

(B) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Epidemiological Specialist position; and

(C) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Office Assistant III position; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1431, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1431, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Co-Chair