Bill Text: HI SB818 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Tuberculosis Testing (TB); Department of Education; Department of Health; Certificate of TB Examination
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-03-12 - Referred to HLT, EDN, referral sheet 30 [SB818 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-SB818-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
818 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to tuberculosis testing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to require the department of health to accept interferon-gamma release assay tuberculosis blood tests in addition to the Mantoux tuberculin skin test for the purpose of obtaining a certificate of tuberculosis examination. Many people are required to be tested for tuberculosis; children entering school, school personnel, personnel working with higher-risk populations, students enrolling in higher education, and others. The addition of the interferon-gamma release assay tuberculosis blood test as an approved tuberculosis diagnostic is necessary because it is a more appropriate test for those who have received the bacille Calmette-Guerin tuberculosis vaccine, individuals opposed to the tuberculin injection, and people for whom returning for a second appointment to check for a skin reaction is a hardship. There is no intent to change current requirements or procedures regarding the use of the Mantoux tuberculin skin test or chest x-rays in obtaining a certificate of tuberculosis examination, rather the intent of this Act is only to provide for an additional accepted diagnostic.
SECTION 2. The department of health shall accept the results of any tuberculosis blood test, also known as an interferon-gamma release assay, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, for the purpose of obtaining a certificate of tuberculosis examination.
SECTION 3. Section 302A-1154, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) No child shall attend any school for
the first time in the State unless the child presents to the appropriate school
official documentation satisfactory to the department of health that the child
has been examined and tested according to [the rules of the department,]
law, and is free from tuberculosis in a communicable form."
SECTION 4. The department of health shall amend its current administrative rules to reflect the addition of the tuberculosis blood test, also known as an interferon-gamma release assay, to the Mantoux tuberculin skin test as acceptable diagnostics for the purpose of obtaining a tuberculosis examination certificate.
SECTION 5. Any existing administrative rules and procedures regarding the use of the Mantoux tuberculin skin test or chest x-rays in obtaining a certificate of tuberculosis examination shall remain in effect until amended to include the addition of interferon-gamma release assay as an acceptable tuberculosis diagnostic pursuant to section 4.
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Tuberculosis Testing (TB); Department of Education; Department of Health; Certificate of TB Examination
Description:
Requires the department of health to accept tuberculosis (TB) blood tests in addition to the TB skin test for the purpose of obtaining a certificate of TB examination. Amends the law requiring tuberculosis clearance prior to public school entry to be in accordance with law rather than with department of health rules. Clarifies that the Department of Health's administrative rules regarding the use of the Mantoux tuberculin skin test or chest x-rays in obtaining a certificate of tuberculosis examination shall remain in effect until amended to include the addition of TB blood tests as an acceptable TB diagnostic.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
