Bill Text: HI SB2473 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Phthalates; Polyvinyl Chloride; Procurement; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-21 - (S) The committee(s) on JDL deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-24-12 10:00AM in conference room 016. [SB2473 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2473-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2473 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that phthalates are a family of chemicals widely used in a variety of consumer products to soften plastics, such as plastic toys and baby teethers. In a medical setting, tubing, blood bags, and many other products are made with polyvinyl chloride, which also contains phthalates. Researchers report that regular contact with phthalates through chewing on plastic toys may cause hormonal damage in young children and increase the chances of serious illness later in life. In 2006, San Francisco became the first city in the United States to restrict phthalates in consumer products. In 2007, California followed suit and became the first state in the nation to ban children toys containing toxic plastic softeners.
The legislature further finds that some companies are limiting their use of products containing certain chemical compounds in an effort to reduce their carbon imprint and to improve the safety of their operations. For example, Dignity Health, formerly known as Catholic Healthcare West, a large hospital network consisting of forty-one hospitals in the United States, advocates for polyvinyl chloride-free intravenous bag products in its hospital network. Although the chemical components, including phthalates, in polyvinyl chloride gives products such as intravenous bags flexibility and pliability, the potential harmful effects include chemical leaching into the intravenous medication preparations and into patient blood streams, and absorption of medication into the walls of the bags. Other large national companies, such as Microsoft Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., and Wal-Mart have all committed to phase out their use of polyvinyl chloride in packaging and move toward safer and healthier alternatives.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a preference for the procurement of polyvinyl chloride-free intravenous products for the Hawaii health systems corporation.
SECTION 2. Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§103D- Polyvinyl chloride-free intravenous products. (a) To encourage the reduction of products containing chemicals that may pose harmful effects to patients in state health facilities and affiliates, the Hawaii health systems corporation shall award contracts to the lowest responsible and responsive bidders, with preference being given to intravenous products that do not contain polyvinyl chloride. The corporation shall adopt policies governing the preference for polyvinyl chloride-free intravenous products for its regional systems to follow accordingly.
(b) This section shall not apply when precluded by federal requirements for competitive bidding or when its application will disqualify the corporation from receiving federal funds or aid."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Phthalates; Polyvinyl Chloride; Procurement; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
Description:
Establishes a preference for the procurement of polyvinyl chloride-free intravenous products for Hawaii health systems corporation. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
