STAND. COM. REP. NO. 90

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 846

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 846 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize Department of Education employees and agents to volunteer to administer auto-injectable epinephrine to a student experiencing anaphylaxis in an emergency situation and to allow the Department of Education to make arrangements to receive auto-injectable epinephrine supplies from manufacturers or suppliers.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Health, Special Education Advisory Council, Community Children's Council of Hawaii, Walgreens Co., American Diabetes Association, and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Association for Justice.

 

     Your Committees find that anaphylaxis is a life threatening condition, and students exposed to allergens at school that cause the onset of anaphylaxis would be aided by the availability of a school staff person to administer auto-injectable epinephrine.  While many older children are able to manage treatment on their own, young children and students with certain disabilities benefit from having trained volunteers available in the event of an emergency.  Allowing Department of Education employees and agents to volunteer to administer auto-injectable epinephrine in emergency situations will make schools safer for students with anaphylaxis.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 846 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Health,

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair

 

____________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair