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HB1112
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1112
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO VIRAL HEPATITIS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that
the department of health reports that hepatitis
B and C viral infections are associated with earlier deaths and higher death rates
in Hawaii.
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Each year from 2000 to 2020, mortality
rates associated with hepatitis B were higher in Hawaii compared to the entire United
States, with three times higher death rates in 2019 alone.
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These death rates were notably higher among Asian
and Pacific Islander residents compared to the rest of the state.
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Furthermore, from 2018-2021, most residents with
hepatitis C (eighty-eight per cent) died before reaching average life expectancy
for the rest of the state.
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These deaths continue
to occur in Hawaii despite the availability of effective tools to prevent, treat,
and even cure these infections.
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To address
the burden of viral hepatitis in Hawaii, the department of health has successfully
leveraged community and state partnerships to convene the "Hep Free 2030:
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The Hawai
'
i Hepatitis Elimination Strategy
2020-2030."
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The coalition has made progress
towards eliminating viral hepatitis by focusing on five priority areas: awareness
and education; access to services; advocacy at all levels; equity in everything;
and data for decision-making.
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In 2021, the
legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 59, H.D. 1, which found that
continued coordination and ongoing efforts are needed to further implement the statewide
strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis types A, B, and C in Hawaii.
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However, there has been no state funding dedicated
to the prevention, management, and treatment of viral hepatitis infections.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to expand
the state's capacity to address preventable morbidity and mortality from viral hepatitis
among Hawaii residents through established and innovative public health interventions.
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SECTION 2.
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Chapter 325, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
by adding to part V four new sections to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:
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"
�325-
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Definitions.
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As used in this part:
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"Department"
means the department of health.
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�325-
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Hepatitis
prevention program.
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(a)
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The department may establish and administer a
hepatitis prevention program to prevent morbidity and mortality among Hawaii residents
due to hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
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(b)
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The hepatitis prevention program shall prioritize:
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(1)
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Hepatitis a
wareness and education;
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(2)
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Increasing
access to services;
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(3)
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Assuring
health equity and addressing the social determinants of health as they relate to
hepatitis; and
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(4)
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The
collection, analysis, and reporting of relevant data to support hepatitis prevention
and treatment.
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�325-
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Awareness
and education.
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The department
shall develop and implement throughout the State an educational program for the
purpose of informing the community how to identify and prevent hepatitis and aid
in its early diagnosis. In furtherance of the hepatitis prevention program, the
department may assist and cooperate with any or all territorial, state, and national
organizations conducting educational programs for the prevention and control of
hepatitis.
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�325-
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Prevention
plan; screening; treatment support.
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The department
shall develop a statewide, comprehensive hepatitis prevention plan.
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The plan shall include hepatitis screening and
services to support individuals with hepatitis to access care and treatment.
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The department may work with other government
agencies, health care providers, health insurers, and community stakeholders to
improve overall rates of screening, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatitis.
"
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SECTION 3.
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Section 325-92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
to read as follows:
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"[
[
]
�325-92
[
]
]
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Prenatal hepatitis B screening and treatment of
newborns.
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The department [
of health
]
may adopt rules necessary to provide appropriate hepatitis B screening of pregnant
women, including reporting and follow-up procedures for newborns of hepatitis B
carrier mothers.
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[
The department may provide
medications necessary for the treatment of newborns of indigent and medically indigent
carrier mothers.
]"
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SECTION 4.
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Section 325-91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
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["
[�325-91
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Blood transfusion; hepatitis.]
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In the procuring, furnishing, donating, processing,
distributing or using of human whole blood, plasma, blood products or blood derivatives
for the purpose of injecting or transfusing in the human body, there shall be no
implied warranty that the blood, plasma, products or derivatives are free from the
virus of serum hepatitis as long as there is no known scientific test to detect
the virus of serum hepatitis.
"]
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SECTION 5.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues
of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
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or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the
same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
establishment and implementation of the hepatitis prevention program, including
the establishment of the following positions within the department of health:
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(1)
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One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) program
specialist V position;
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(2)
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One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) epidemiological
specialist; and
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(3)
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One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) office
assistant III.
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The sums appropriated shall
be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 6.
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Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed
and stricken.
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New statutory material is underscored.
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SECTION
7.
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This Act, upon its approval, shall take
effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
BY REQUEST
Report Title:
DOH; Viral Hepatitis; Prevention; Awareness; Education; Screenings;
Treatment Support; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes and appropriates moneys for a hepatitis prevention
program within the Department of Health.
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Repeals section 325-91, HRS.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.