STAND. COM. REP. 1144

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 963

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 963, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE POISON CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to continue to protect Hawaii's residents and visitors in mitigating the impact of poisonings by appropriating funds to the Department of Health (DOH) to continue to operate a hospital-based poison center twenty-four hours a day.

DOH, Kaiser Permanente, Kapiolani Medical Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii , Hawaii Pest Control Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and many individuals testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that poison centers are recognized as a component of the Homeland Security initiative as a resource for disease surveillance and immediate public access to information and education. Moreover, your Committee finds that poison centers are effective in mitigating the impact of poisonings and reducing health care costs and that inadequate operation of a poison center may lead to unnecessary physician and emergency department visits.

Due to current economic conditions, your Committee has been informed that The Hawaii Poison Center (Poison Center) may face closure or a reduction in hours if funding is not provided. The expenses in fiscal year 2003 are expected to be $500,000, which cover the costs of the twenty-four-hour hotline, public education program, administration, and staffing. The twenty-four-hour hotline alone costs approximately $320,000 per year to operate. The Poison Center projects a similar expenditure plan for 2004.

The Poison Center currently receives funds from a variety of sources including federal grants, the Department of Agriculture pesticide program, grants from local foundations, donations, in-kind services, and direct contributions from Kapiolani Medical Center. In fiscal year 2003, the anticipated total revenue for the Poison Center is $500,000. However, the anticipated revenue for the Poison Center in fiscal year 2004 is expected to reach only $238,000, a decrease by over 50 per cent, resulting in a $262,000 deficit.

Businesses, healthcare organizations, and other donors that normally contribute funding, including Kapiolani Medical Center which in 2003 contributed over $148,000 and operates the Poison Center, have indicated that they may not be able to assist this year because of the poor economy.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount to $1 to facilitate further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 963, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 963, S.D. 1,

H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair