STAND. COM. REP. NO. 402-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2553

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2553, H.D. 1, 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 to administer vaccines to persons three years of age or older;

(2) Authorize 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

(3) 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; Board of Pharmacy; University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; KTA Super Stores; Times Pharmacy; American Pharmacists Association; CVS Health; National Community Pharmacists Association; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Molokaʻi Drugs, Inc.; Hawaii Pharmacists Association; Walgreen Co.; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that pharmacists are trusted health care professionals who have established relationships with their patients and often offer extended hours and added convenience. Furthermore, pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals since pharmacies are geographically dispersed throughout the community, which is especially important in rural and medically underserved areas in the State.

Your Committee further finds that the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, division C of P.L. 109-148 (PREP Act) expanded the authority of pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians to administer COVID-19 tests and vaccines, including the administering of vaccines to minors as young as three years old. Under the PREP Act, the authority to administer certain vaccines ended on May 11, 2023; however, the authority to administer COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines continues through the end of 2024. This measure minimizes interruptions to patients' access to necessary vaccinations and ensures the State can meet its public health needs by authorizing pharmacists, pharmacy interns, and pharmacy technicians to administer certain vaccines to minors.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2553, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2553, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair