STAND. COM. REP. NO. 90-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1892

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1892 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a pilot program within the Department of Health to provide free wireless broadband internet access, in parking lots adjacent to Department of Health buildings, to elderly residents.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and AARP Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; and Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committee finds that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the use of remote or telehealth services for the provision of health care services. Your Committee further finds that many of the State's residents have struggled to obtain timely primary care services because of a lack of broadband internet resources. This measure serves to bridge the digital divide and improve access to telehealth visits and scheduling for disadvantaged populations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the pilot program is to be offered to senior and rural residents;

(2) Expanding the scope of the pilot program to include the digitization of certain vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1892, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1892, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair