STAND. COM. REP. NO. 27-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2090
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2090 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IMPAIRED DRIVERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill, as received by your Committee, is
to impose the same requirements and offer the same protections
for health care providers of treatment for drug-impaired
patients, who have been involved in motor vehicle collisions, as
now exists for the treatment of patients with alcohol in their
blood.

     Your Committee finds that health providers, treating
alcohol-impaired patients involved in vehicle collisions, who
become aware that the alcohol content in the person's blood
exceeds the legal amount, the provider shall notify any law
enforcement officer at the facility.  Your Committee further
finds that health care providers treating alcohol-impaired
patients are protected from civil liability for reporting to the
proper authorities and for performing blood or urine tests.

     This bill proposes to impose the same responsibility for
health care providers, who are treating drug-impaired patients,
for reporting their findings, and offers the same immunity from
civil liability, as for health providers who are treating
alcohol-impaired patients.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 27-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Testimonies in support of this bill were received from the
Department of Transportation; the Police Department, city and
county of Honolulu; and the Department of the Prosecuting
Attorney, city and county of Honolulu.  The Office of the Public
Defender pointed out that the same amendments are incorporated in
the proposed omnibus bill.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving
testified that the amendment may be premature.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2090 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred
to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair