STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1472

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1018

S.D. 1

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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1018, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to specify, when a state of emergency or local state of emergency has been declared or when the State is the subject of a health or pandemic emergency, that:

(1) The Governor shall regulate medical facilities appropriately to ensure continuity of service; and

(2) Any hospital may suspend elective surgeries to address the hospital's bed capacity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the importance of maintaining adequate capacity in the State's health care system during an emergency. This measure is intended to ensure that the State can maintain continuity of service in the health care system and grant hospitals the flexibility to adequately respond to health or pandemic emergencies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1018, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair