HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1745

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Vector control involves controlling the spread of animals that have the potential to carry disease, from rodents to insects, including mosquitoes.  However, the department of health currently has no vector control branch, and its vector control unit suffered severe funding cuts several years ago.

     According to the department of health, it plans to hire more workers for its vector control unit, but still will not have nearly as many workers as it once did.  A wave of cost-cutting measures in 2009 eliminated dozens of workers tasked with controlling mosquitoes and rats.

     The legislature finds that the current outbreak of dengue fever necessitates an appropriation to the department of health to hire more vector control employees and to reestablish a vector control branch.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the department of health to hire more full-time employees for vector control and to reestablish a vector control branch.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to the department of health to hire thirty-seven full-time equivalent (37.0 FTE) positions for vector control, including a vector control program manager, communications specialist, and thirty-five staff positions, and to take steps to fully reestablish a vector control sector branch within the department of health's environmental health administration.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2070.



 

Report Title:

Vector Control; Department of Health; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to hire more employees for vector control and to fully reestablish a Vector Control Sector Branch within its Environmental Health Administration.  (HB1745 HD1)

 

 

 

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