STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1917

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 205

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 205 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING ONGOING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BY STATE AGENCIES AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE "HEP FREE 2030" STATEWIDE STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE VIRAL HEPATITIS TYPES A, B, AND C IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize and support ongoing collaborative efforts by state agencies and private organizations to implement the "Hep Free 2030" statewide strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis types A, B, and C in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hep Free Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii has one of the highest incidences and mortality rates in the country for liver cancer, primarily due to viral hepatitis. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Health has been partnering closely with a wide array of state and community partners to address this public health priority as a member of the Hep Free Hawaii coalition since 2011, and in 2020, the United States Senators for Hawaii, Lieutenant Governor, and Harm Reduction Services Branch of the Department of Health issued "Hep Free 2030", a first-in-the-nation, ten-year statewide strategy to help eliminate viral hepatitis types A, B, and C in Hawaii. This measure formally recognizes and supports the ongoing collaboration among public agencies and private organizations to further implement the "Hep Free 2030" statewide strategy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 205, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair