STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3323

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2366

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2366, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ORGAN DONOR REGISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the number of potential organ donors in Hawaii.

     Specifically, this measure establishes a statewide organ donor registry within the Department of Health to compile organ donor information into a centralized database and make the information available to family members and physicians.  The measure also allows the Director of Health to contract for the establishment of the organ donor registry and appropriates an unspecified amount for the establishment of the registry.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Filipino American Citizens League, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc., Philippine Nurses Association, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Filipino Coalition of Solidarity, Case Management Professionals, Inc., AIM Healthcare Institute, and three concerned individuals.

Your Committee finds that the number of people awaiting organ transplants in Hawaii exceeds the number of available donor organs.  In addition, the number of registered organ donors has declined over the past few years.  As a result, more people are dying or are being removed from the organ transplant waitlist because they have become too sick to receive a transplant.  Your Committee finds that this measure will help to increase the registration of potential organ donors and reduce the organ shortage in this State.  Accordingly, your Committee supports the establishment of a statewide organ donor registry.

Furthermore, your Committee acknowledges that the Department of Health, along with a consortium of organizations, including the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, has applied for a federal grant to assist in the establishment of the statewide organ donor registry.  For this reason, an appropriation from the general fund may not be necessary.

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. 2366, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair