STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2874

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2554

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2554 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require employers to use materials provided by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to educate employees regarding seizure first aid.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committee finds that seizure disorders like Epilepsy are evidenced by sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain that affect a variety of mental and physical functions. The Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii advocates and provides services for almost fourteen thousand residents in the State living with Epilepsy. The prevalence of Epilepsy and other seizure disorders in our community evidence a need to provide workplace education regarding seizure first aid.

Your Committee received testimony relating to the difficulty enforcing the provisions contained in this bill. As a result, your Committee encourages the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to consider implementing a pilot program at the Capitol for a first aid plan that includes seizure first aid education.

Your Committee also has received no testimony in support of creating immunity from liability for persons administering seizure first aid. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting proposed language providing employees with immunity from liability.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2554, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2554, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair