STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1034

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1431

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1431, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the State's capacity to address preventable morbidity and mortality from viral hepatitis among Hawaii residents through established and innovative public health innovations.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes and appropriates moneys for the Department of Health to establish and administer a hepatitis prevention program;

(2) Directs the Department of Health to develop a statewide hepatitis prevention plan; and

(3) Makes conforming amendments to repeal specific provisions that:

(A) Authorize the Department of Health to provide hepatitis B medications for the treatment of qualifying newborns; and

(B) State that there is no implied warranty that blood and blood products used in transfusions and injections are free of the hepatitis virus.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hep Free Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, AlohaCare, and fourteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State and its community partners have made progress towards eliminating viral hepatitis pursuant to Hep Free 2030: The Hawaii Hepatitis Elimination Strategy 2020-2030. Your Committee further finds that coordination and ongoing efforts must continue and require support to further implement the statewide strategy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1431, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair