STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3927

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1893

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1893, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OAHU REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide for the future management of the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the transfer of the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home to the Oahu Regional Health Care System by December 31, 2022; and

(2) Establishes statutory provisions governing the operation of the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home after the Oahu Regional Health Care System is transferred to the Department of Health.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Veterans Services, Oahu Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Department of Defense, Department of Accounting and General Services, Maui County Veterans Council, Hawaii Military Affairs Council, State Veterans Advisory Board, and five individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee finds that the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, which is currently being constructed by the Department of Defense and Department of Accounting and General Services, should be operated and managed by a state agency having the expertise needed to manage a long-term care facility.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the date by which the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home must be transferred to the Oahu Regional Health Care System from December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2023;

(2) Making structural amendments proposed by the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to better effectuate the purpose of the measure, including deleting provisions:

(A) Pertaining to the transfer of employees of the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home;

(B) Establishing exemptions from various laws applicable to the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home; and

(C) Establishing requirements for the operation of the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home after the Oahu Regional Health Care System is transferred to the Department of Health; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of consistency and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1893, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1893, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair