Bill Text: HI HB2569 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Rat Lungworm Disease Containment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-29 - Referred to HHS, HED, FIN, referral sheet 9 [HB2569 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2569-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2569 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE CONTAINMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that according to a 2015 Hawaii News Now article, thirty-eight out of forty-two reported cases of rat lungworm disease between 2007 and 2015 occurred in the county of Hawaii. According to the department of health, rat lungworm disease is spreading in the State with one confirmed case in 2014, nine in 2015, twenty-two in 2016, and over seventeen in 2017, including one in Honolulu county and six in Maui county. The Hawaii island rat lungworm disease working group was formed at the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The working group has been conducting research and educational outreach on the disease for the past four years, including studying patients who have been diagnosed with rat lungworm disease.
Reporting of rat lungworm disease has been hampered by the reluctance of patients to undergo the only known detection method, a highly invasive spinal tap requiring the withdrawal of cerebral spinal fluid. However, the University of Hawaii at Hilo college of pharmacy is developing a simpler blood test which will allow for earlier detection and treatment.
Currently, the department of health has been focusing its efforts to contain rat lungworm disease by statewide education rather than treatment. There is no duplication of effort between the department of health and the University of Hawaii college of pharmacy. The latter's focus is on treatment and prevention in areas that rely on catchment water rather than county water; however, their funding is severely depleted.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo college of pharmacy for programs, studies, and activities related to the prevention and eradication of rat lungworm disease.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for programs, studies, and activities related to the prevention and eradication of rat lungworm disease, including:
(1) Developing an integrated pest management plan for best practices for control of rat lungworm hosts and providing that information to the public;
(2) Implementing a long-term, statewide collaborative effort to monitor invasive mollusk and paratenic hosts for rat lungworm infection;
(3) Conducting laboratory testing to determine the effectiveness of deworming rats to reduce rat lungworm transmission;
(4) Conducting laboratory testing of a wide range of commercially available produce washes as well as other potential solutions;
(5) Conducting laboratory testing of commercially available filters and ultraviolet systems to determine its effectiveness in catchment waters;
(6) Optimizing existing tests or developing new blood based tests for rat lungworm diagnostics;
(7) Conducting and publishing a study on long-term recovery from rat lungworm disease and recommending medical treatments and assistance;
(8) Developing a rural health educational outreach program for rainwater catchment users;
(9) Providing educational outreach to kindergarten through twelfth grade school personnel involved in food procurement and preparation, and school garden projects;
(10) Developing rat lungworm curriculum and an integrated
pest management plan for control of invasive hosts in
all Hawaii school garden projects; and
(11) Providing educational outreach to farmers' groups and farmers providing food for schools to implement integrated pest management for control of carriers of rat lungworm disease.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii at Hilo college of pharmacy for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Rat Lungworm Disease; University of Hawaii at Hilo; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Pharmacy for programs, studies, and activities related to early detection, prevention, and eradication of rat lungworm disease.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
