STAND. COM. REP. NO. 613

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 243

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 243 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a permanent Veterinary Medical Officer position within the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that zoonotic diseases are a class of diseases that can be spread between humans and animals. These diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans directly or indirectly by consumption of contaminated foodstuffs or contact with infected animals. Your Committee finds that the State will benefit from having a dedicated public health veterinarian position within the Department of Health to address concerns related to disease transmission related to companion animals, agricultural animals, or wild animal reservoirs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 243, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 243, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair