STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1722-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.R. No. 174

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.R. No. 174 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE IF XYLAZINE TESTING STRIPS SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE STATE'S DEFINITION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of the Attorney General to conduct a study to determine if xylazine testing strips should be excluded from the State's definition of drug paraphernalia.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that there has been a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine, also known as "Tranq," is a powerful sedative that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use only. Your Committee further finds that since xylazine is not an opioid, overdose reversal agents such as naloxone do not counteract the effects of xylazine. This places users at a higher risk of suffering from a fatal drug poisoning. People who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine can also develop severe wounds, including necrosis, that may lead to amputation. Your Committee believes that xylazine testing strips could prevent these complications and save lives by allowing users to test their drugs for xylazine before administration.

Your Committee has amended this measure by amending its title and substantive provisions to change the agency responsible for the study from the Department of the Attorney General to the Department of Law Enforcement.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 174, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 174, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair