STAND. COM. REP. NO. 19-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2553

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2553 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHARMACISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize licensed pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians under the direct supervision of a pharmacist to administer vaccines to persons between the ages of three and seventeen, if certain requirements are met; and

(2) Authorize licensed pharmacists to order the administration of vaccines for persons between the ages of three and seventeen.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; University of Hawai‘i at Hilo; American Pharmacists Association; CVS Health; Walgreen Co.; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Moloka‘i Drugs, Inc.; Hawaii Pharmacists Association; National Community Pharmacists Association; Mauliola Pharmacy; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Pharmacy.

Your Committee finds that between 2017 and 2022, routine vaccination for Hawaii's kindergarteners declined nearly ten percent. Hawaii's vaccination rate for children also remains below the national average. Your Committee further finds that during the COVID-19 pandemic, amendments to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act authorized pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to act beyond the limited scope of existing state law and order and administer a number of vaccines to children between the ages of three to seventeen, including routinely recommended childhood vaccinations. Your Committee believes that permanently authorizing pharmacists and certain pharmacy personnel to order and administer vaccines to children between the ages of three and seventeen will minimize interruptions to patients' access to necessary vaccinations and ensure Hawaii's residents will continue to have access to routine and recommended vaccination services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that pharmacists are authorized to administer vaccinations to persons three years of age or older;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider whether there is an appropriate regulatory scheme currently in place in the State for pharmacy interns.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2553, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2553, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair