Bill Text: HI HB2061 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Appropriation; Health; Vector Control ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-05 - The committee(s) on HLT recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB2061 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-HB2061-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2061 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
PROPOSED |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REESTABLISH A VECTOR CONTROL BRANCH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with article VII, section 9, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.
SECTION 2. In accordance with article VII, section 9, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that appropriations contained in section 4 of this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2015-2016 to be exceeded by $ , or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriations made in this Act are necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs addressed by this Act.
SECTION 3. The legislature finds that vector control involves controlling the spread of animals that have the potential to carry disease, from rodents to insects, including mosquitoes. However, the Hawaii department of health currently lacks sufficient staffing and resources due to funding cuts suffered during the recession of several years ago.
According to a June 17, 2015, news story on KHON2, department of health officials plan to hire more workers for its vector control unit, but the department still will not have nearly as many workers as it once did.
The legislature further finds that the current outbreak of dengue fever necessitates an appropriation to the department of health to hire more vector control employees and reestablish a vector control branch.
Thus, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Provide an emergency appropriation for the department of health to target additional resources for the county of Hawaii to support ongoing activities in addressing the dengue fever outbreak; and
(2) Appropriate additional positions and funds within the department of health to reestablish sufficient vector control branch resources to address potential statewide epidemiological events.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 for the department of health to target additional resources for the county of Hawaii to support ongoing activities in addressing the dengue fever outbreak, including the hiring of necessary staff.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the department of health to hire full-time equivalent positions for vector control, including a vector control program manager and staff positions, and to take steps to fully reestablish a vector control branch within the department of health environmental health administration.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, provided that section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2016.
Report Title:
Appropriation; Health; Vector Control
Description:
Makes an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2015-2016 to the Department of Health for the dengue fever outbreak. Makes an appropriation for fiscal year 2016-2017 to the department of health to hire more vector control employees and reestablish a vector control branch. (HD1 PROPOSED)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
