STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1052

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 458

       H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 458, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, require public schools to annually provide information about the human papillomavirus and other vaccines to parents and guardians of students entering grade 6; and

 

     (2)  Require the Department of Health to develop the information and produce the materials to be provided to the parents and guardians and require the Department of Education to disseminate the information.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; American Association of University Women, Windward Oahu Branch; Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Planned Parenthood; Hawaii Immunization Coalition; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; Hawaii Women Lawyers; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section; Hawaii Women's Coalition; and eleven individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from four individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committees find that the human papillomavirus vaccine may prevent certain cancers, thereby saving lives.  The prevention of infectious disease is paramount to a safe and healthy society.  Sharing accurate, educational information on diseases and vaccinations and presenting it to families whose children are of an appropriate age to receive the vaccine is appropriate and necessary to better educate the community and promote public health.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 458, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Education,

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair