STAND. COM. REP. NO. 965

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1369

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1369, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSING FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to preserve access to health care for Medicaid recipients and strengthen the Nursing Sustainability Program by:

(1) Repealing the sunset dates of Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, and Act 124, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, thereby making the Nursing Sustainability Program permanent and permanently exempting the Program from the central service and administrative expenses assessments;

(2) Repealing the Nursing Facility Tax; and

(3) Appropriating funds from the Nursing Facility Sustainability Program Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, East Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, The Queen's Health System, Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, and Kūpuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation, Aloha Nursing Rehab Centre, Palolo Chinese Home, and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1369, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair