STAND. COM. REP. NO. 387

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1538

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1538 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Direct the Department of Health and Hawaii State Civil Defense to report to the Legislature no later than sixty days prior the convening of the Regular Session of 2012 on each agency's progress in implementing the recommendations of the Statewide Dialysis Emergency Plan; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate an unspecified amount to the Department of Health to upgrade dialysis facilities and otherwise effectuate the recommendations of the Statewide Dialysis Emergency Plan.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State of Hawaii, Department of Defense; the Department of Health; the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Emergency Services Department; the National Kidney Foundation; Liberty Dialysis Hawaii; the Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that patients who require dialysis treatment have special risks and needs during and after emergency events and natural disasters.  Hawaii's geographic isolation and high number of people with kidney disease make the need for emergency planning in these situations critical. 

 

Your Committee further finds that in 2010, a task force was established to create a Statewide Dialysis Emergency Plan.  In developing the plan, the task force commissioned a study to identify risks and needs, and make recommendations for preparation for and response to power outages, hurricanes, earthquakes, water outages, or other large-scale emergencies.  This measure will help the State be better prepared to care for those who require dialysis in the event of emergencies or natural disasters.

 

     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. 1538 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair