STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1846

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 406

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 406, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve health care for Hawaii's veterans.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Health and Oahu Regional Health Care System to develop a strategic plan for the utilization of all Oahu regional health care system facilities and to submit a corresponding report;

(2) Extends the date to assimilate the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home into the Oahu Regional Health Care System;

(3) Requires the Oahu Regional Health Care System and the Department of Defense to report on the progress of constructing and hiring an operator for the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home; and

(4) Appropriates moneys for a transitional treatment and housing facility on the Leahi Hospital campus.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Oahu Region Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and State Office of Veterans Services.

Your Committee finds that due to supply chain issues caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, completion of the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home has been delayed by approximately one year. Accordingly, your Committee believes that it is appropriate to extend, from June 30, 2023, to June 30, 2024, the deadline for transferring the home.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated from $1,000,000 to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making the appropriation for fiscal year 2023-2024 only.

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. 406, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 406, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair