STAND. COM. REP. NO.  717

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 782

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 782, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to raise awareness of the cytomegalovirus, the most common cause of birth defects and childhood disability in the United States, by:

 

(1)  Requiring the Department of Health (Department) to establish a Public Education Program to inform pregnant women and women who may become pregnant about the various aspects of the cytomegalovirus and to provide the information to hospitals, health care providers, and child, infant, and toddler care facilities, including organizations offering children's programs as a part of worship services;

 

(2)  Requiring the Department to convene a working group of relevant health care stakeholders to participate in the development of the Program and to inform and educate health care providers who may be responsible for the provision of services to pregnant mothers or newborns with the cytomegalovirus;

 


(3)  Requiring the working group to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2016 Regular Session that includes recommendations for developing, implementing, and funding the Program; and

 

(4)  Appropriating funds to the Department to implement the Program.

 

     Numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department provided comments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 782, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair