STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3185

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2454

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to the Department of Health for emergency asbestos remediation at Kinau Hale, where the Department's main offices are located; temporary relocation of the main offices, if necessary; and preliminary planning for redevelopment of the site.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Health's main offices at Kinau Hale is in a dilapidated condition that contributes to increasingly frequent disturbances of asbestos in the ceiling and floor in the building since November 2023. Although multiple ambient air testing results confirm that the air in the building is currently safe, any major incident, such as heavy rains, may cause massive roof leaks, significantly elevating risks of exposure to asbestos. Your Committee additionally finds that there will be a need for lease and moving expenses if the Department must relocate staff and equipment due to asbestos disturbance or other catastrophic building failure requiring immediate evacuation. Your Committee further finds that Kinau Hale is over sixty years old, and therefore, the emergency appropriation sought in this measure includes funds to begin preliminary planning for redevelopment of the parcel on which Kinau Hale is built. This measure will ensure the health and safety of employees of the Department of Health and other individuals who visit the Department's main offices.

Your Committee notes that although this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount, the Department of Health's testimony requests an appropriation of $1,500,000, of which $500,000 is needed immediately to conduct necessary safety repairs identified by the Department of Accounting and General Services. The remaining $1,000,000 is included in the Department of Health's $5,000,000 budget request. Accordingly, if the Department of Health's budget request is accepted, the amount of emergency appropriation pursuant this measure will be $500,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2454, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair