STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1448

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.C.R. No. 164

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 164 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE WOMEN'S CAUCUS OF THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO FORM ACTION GROUPS TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION FOCUSING ON THE ELIMINATION OF CERVICAL CANCER IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Women's Caucus of the Hawaii State Legislature to form action groups to disseminate information focusing on the elimination of cervical cancer in the state.

The Department of Health, American Cancer Society, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists - Hawaii Section, and Science and Technology International supported this concurrent resolution.

Your Committee recognizes the need to take immediate action on a health issue as serious as cervical cancer. In an effort to better address this issue and more fully encompass all areas that must be covered to assure the health and safety of those at risk of cervical cancer, your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by adding a request that the Governor create the Hawaii Cervical Elimination Task Force (Task Force).

Specifically, the Task Force will:

(1) Prepare a statistical and qualitative examination of the prevalence and burden of cervical cancer;

(2) Raise public awareness of the causes and nature of cervical cancer, personal risk factors, value of prevention and early detection, options for testing, treatment costs, new technology, medical care reimbursement, and physical education;

(3) Identify priority strategies, new technologies, or newly introduced vaccines that are effective in preventing and controlling cervical cancer;

(4) Identify and examine the limitations of existing laws, rules, programs, and services with regard to coverage and awareness of cervical cancer;

(5) Educate and urge medical providers to make educational information available to patients about human papillomavirus and prevention of cervical cancer;

(6) Develop and promote a statewide comprehensive Cervical Cancer Prevention Plan (Plan), including strategies for implementing the Plan;

(7) Secure specific commitments from, and facilitate coordination and communication among, state and local agencies, organizations, businesses, and other entities regarding current or future involvement in implementing and promoting the Plan or achieving other objectives of the Plan; and

(8) Receive and consider reports and testimony from individuals, county health agencies, community-based organizations, voluntary health organizations, and other public and private organizations statewide to learn about their activities and ideas for improvement with respect to cervical cancer diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Accordingly, the title of this concurrent resolution has also been changed to:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE WOMEN'S CAUCUS OF THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO FORM ACTION GROUPS TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION FOCUSING ON THE ELIMINATION OF CERVICAL CANCER IN THE STATE, AND REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH THE HAWAII CERVICAL CANCER ELIMINATION TASK FORCE."

Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 164, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Legislative Management in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 164, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair