STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1155-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3128

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 3128, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACT 212, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2021,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the transfer of the Oahu Regional Health Care System in its entirety from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Department of Health; and

(2) Require the Oahu Regional Health Care System to enter into an agreement with the Department of Health regarding the Oahu Regional Health Care System taking care of low acuity patients in the Department's custody by the end of 2024.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board of Directors; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation - Oahu Region; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Act 212, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, required the transfer of the Oahu Regional Health Care System (Oahu Region) to the Department of Health from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. However, there is growing concern that this transfer has become financially unfeasible and will provide no net gain in services for the community. Your Committee believes that the transfer of the Oahu Region to the Department of Health is a worthwhile endeavor and the transition process should continue while possible alternatives for the use of the Leahi Hospital campus and Maluhia are considered.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting provisions repealing the transfer of the Oahu Region from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Department of Health and inserting language extending the transfer of the Oahu Region to December 31, 2026;

(2) Requiring the working group established by Act 212, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2026;

(3) Requiring the Oahu Region to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2026;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3128, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3128, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Homelessness,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair