STAND. COM. REP. NO.  513

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 589

      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 H.B. No. 589 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STROKE CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce death and disability from stroke by:

(1)  Establishing a stroke system of care to evaluate and improve stroke care throughout the State; and

(2)  Convening a Stroke Coalition to ensure sustainability of the stroke system.

The Queen's Medical Center, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Neurological Society, Medtronic, Inc., and two individuals supported this measure.  The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association supported this measure with recommended amendments.  The Department of Health commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Deleting:

(A)  The requirement that the Director of Health serve as the Chairperson of the Stroke Coalition; and

(B)  The provision allowing reimbursement of expenses for Stroke Coalition members in carrying out their duties;

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

     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 H.B. No. 589, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 589, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair