CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 138

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 870

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 870, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED SERVICE PILOT PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Human Services to:

(A) Establish a Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program (Pilot Program) to supplement existing statewide services;

(B) Establish a Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program Working Group (Working Group) to develop a pilot program implementation plan; and

(C) Report to the Legislature on the implementation plan and Pilot Program; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the establishment and operation of the Pilot Program and Working Group.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Exempting contracts entered into by the Department of Human Services to fulfill the purposes of the Pilot Program from the requirements of the Hawaii Public Procurement Code and State requirements for the purchase of health and human services;

(2) Exempting the Working Group from public agency open meeting requirements;

(3) Requiring the Pilot Program to begin no later than January 1, 2024;

(4) Sunsetting the Pilot Program on July 30, 2029, rather than July 30, 2027, and requiring the Department of Human Services to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2029, rather than 2027;

(5) Inserting an appropriation amount of $93,000 and clarifying that the appropriation may be used to contract for services to coordinate the convening of the Working Group and implementation of the Pilot Program;

(6) Adding the requisite information for making an appropriation in excess of the general fund expenditure ceiling pursuant to article VII, section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(7) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2023, and the sunset date to June 30, 2029; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 870, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 870, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair	____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO Co-Chair
____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair	____________________________ BERTRAND KOBAYASHI Co-Chair