STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3923

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2515

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2515, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to establish and operate a laboratory capable of testing for diseases, testing for air and water quality issues, and conducting other high complexity testing.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Board of Water Supply, and Young Democrats of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that establishing the laboratory required by this measure will allow the Department of Health to carry out complex testing to better meet the State's needs, including testing to support criminal investigations, and to ensure access to safe drinking water, environmental remediation, and the mitigation of infectious diseases.  

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the appropriation;

 

     (2)  Making the measure effective upon its approval; and

    

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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 H.B. No. 2515, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2515, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair