STAND. COM. REP. NO.  987

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.B. No. 911

      S.D. 2

      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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 911, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LATEX,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the use of latex gloves in dental health facilities and health care facilities, by personnel providing ambulance services or emergency medical services pursuant to the State Comprehensive Emergency Medical Services System, and in food establishments.

 

     American Latex Allergy Association and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Queen's Health Systems testified in support of this measure with a recommended amendment to the measure.  Minit Stop Stores opposed the measure.  The Department of Health, Hawaii Dental Association, Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, and several individuals provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Excluding from the prohibition, procedures performed in hospital operating rooms that adhere to hospital policies and procedures that set standards for latex-safe environments; and

 

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2112, to facilitate further discussion.

 

Your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Judiciary to consider providing flexibility and safe options relative to the prohibition of latex glove use in dental health facilities.

 

     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. 911, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 911, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair