STAND. COM. REP. NO. 828

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 911

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LATEX,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the use of latex gloves in dental health facilities, health care facilities, and food establishments and by personnel providing ambulance services or emergency medical services.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the American Latex Allergy Association and twenty individuals.  Written comments in opposition to this measure were received from the Hawaii Dental Association and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that latex allergy is a serious concern because it causes reactions ranging from mild rashes to difficulty breathing to deadly anaphylaxis.  The allergy progresses with each exposure, and there is currently no medically approved treatment except strict avoidance.

 

     Your Committee has provided time for a transition period in this measure.  Your Committee requests that, during this period, the Department of Health consider establishing a latex-free plan for the affected providers and facilities.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2016.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 911, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 911, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair