HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.157           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO INVESTIGATE AND EVALUATE
    ANY SUSPICIOUS OR SIGNIFICANT CLUSTER OR INCREASE OF
    ILLNESS OR INJURY THAT IS SUSPECTED OF BEING CAUSED BY
    ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION OR THAT IS REPORTED BY THE
    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR A COMMUNITY.



 1        WHEREAS, as the population of the State grows, homes and
 2   schools are being constructed on former agricultural lands or
 3   facilities formerly used by the military; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, this situation is certain to increase as
 6   agriculture declines and the military downsizes and additional
 7   lands become available for urbanization; and
 8   
 9        WHEREAS, environmental health hazards in the soil, as
10   residue from pesticides or contaminated drinking water, can
11   remain undetected until significant clusters of disease or
12   illness are identified; and
13   
14        WHEREAS, secret underground military facilities, such as
15   tunnels and bunkers, in which were stored munitions and
16   supplies, are also capable of causing environmental health
17   hazards; and
18   
19        WHEREAS, significant clusters of illness or disease are
20   not readily identifiable until some commonality occurs, such as
21   proximate neighbors comparing notes or children of the same
22   age-level entering a single neighborhood school being enrolled
23   in special education classes; and
24   
25        WHEREAS, when a suspicious or significant cluster or
26   increase of illness or injury occurs in a school or community
27   and is identified by faculty or community members, it should be
28   the ethical duty of the principal and faculty members, and the
29   civic duty of community members, to report their suspicions or
30   findings to the Department of Health; and
31   
32        WHEREAS, as Hawaii's family doctor, the Director of Health
33   should be responsible for taking the lead role in:
34   
35        (1)  Identifying and coordinating the immediate and long-
36             term health care needs of adults and children whose
37             illnesses or injuries are suspected of being caused
38             by environmental contamination; and
39   

 
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 1        (2)  Pooling and coordinating the resources of other state
 2             agencies to investigate and evaluate reports of
 3             suspicious or significant clusters or increases of
 4             illness or injury occurring in a school or community;
 5             now, therefore,
 6   
 7        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 8   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 9   of 1999, that the Department of Health is requested to
10   investigate and evaluate any suspicious or significant cluster
11   or increase of illness or injury that is:
12   
13        (1)  Suspected of being caused by environmental
14             contamination; or
15   
16        (2)  Reported to the Department of Health by the
17             Department of Education or a community;
18   
19   and
20   
21        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is
22   requested to take the lead role in pooling and coordinating the
23   resources of other state agencies to conduct the necessary
24   investigation and evaluation, which should include soil, water,
25   and air testing as applicable; and
26   
27        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is
28   requested to report to the public any findings relating to the
29   presence or absence of any suspicious or significant cluster or
30   increase of illness or injury that is suspected of being caused
31   by environmental contamination; and
32   
33        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is
34   requested to identify and coordinate the immediate and long-
35   term health care needs of adults and children whose illnesses
36   or injuries are suspected of being caused by environmental
37   contamination; and
38   
39        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
40   Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the
41   Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Chairperson of the
42   Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Chairperson of the
43   Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, the President of

 
 
 
 
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                                  H.R. NO.157           
                                                        
                                                        


 1   the University of Hawaii, the Chairperson of the Board of
 2   Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the Adjutant
 3   General.
 4 
 5 
 6 
 7                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________
 8