STAND. COM. REP. 395

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1110

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1110 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MICROORGANISM IMPORT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide flexibility in preparing for public health emergencies by:

(1) Exempting from Department of Agriculture (DOA) review and permit requirements, except the notification, labeling, and inspection requirements of section 150A-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the import of microorganisms by:

(A) The Department of Health (DOH) and Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) for their laboratories, under certain conditions; and

(B) Laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratories Improvement Amendments of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 263 et seq.), under certain conditions;

(2) Allowing DOH and TAMC to transfer between their respective laboratories any microorganism without DOA approval; and

(3) Requiring prior DOA approval to transfer any microorganism imported to other entities in the State.

In addition, this bill repeals the provision that provides that permits, issued under rules adopted prior to Act 211, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, are valid until the expiration date shown on the permit with no entitlement to renewal on the original import terms and conditions.

DOA and DOH testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee recognizes the importance of providing DOH, TAMC, and other laboratories the flexibility needed to prepare Hawaii for any future public health emergencies and bioterrorism attacks.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1110 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair