STAND. COM. REP. NO. 895

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 846

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 846 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide a safe learning environment for students with anaphylaxis by authorizing trained volunteers to administer auto-injectable epinephrine in an emergency situation.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the American Diabetes Association, Walgreens, and two individuals.  Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

 

     Your Committee finds that anaphylaxis is a life threatening allergic reaction that can occur when susceptible persons are exposed to an allergen.  Your Committee believes that the availability of auto-injectable epinephrine can be lifesaving to a person with anaphylaxis in an emergency situation.  Your Committee further finds that training school personnel or agents who volunteer to administer auto-injectable epinephrine may save a student's life during an emergency, and current models of best practice require that a student's auto-injectable epinephrine supplies be in a secure and accessible location. 

 

     However, your Committee finds that the Department of Education, in implementing this measure, should not be subjected to the potential conflicts and issues that may accompany the donation of medical supplies from private companies.

 

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting language authorizing the Department of Education to obtain auto-injectable epinephrine supplies from auto-injectable epinephrine manufacturers or suppliers.

 

     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. 846, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 846, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair