STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2366

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2483

S.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 S.B. No. 2483 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds and require the Department of Health to administer a three-year pilot program to authorize community health workers to provide outreach, education, training, and navigation services to address the social determinants of health in Kaʻū, Hawaii County.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi; Office of Housing and Community Development of the County of Hawaiʻi; Kula no nā Poʻe Hawaiʻi; Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association, Inc.; Papa Ola Lokahi; Kaʻu Hospital; and five individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that community health workers play a central role in connecting rural, underserved communities with essential programs and services that target social factors of health by addressing issues such as access to health care, prevention, outreach, and training. Your Committee further finds that community health workers are especially vital in rural areas lacking reliable access to health education, resources, or employment opportunities. This measure improves health care accessibility and promotes community well-being in the Kaʻū district.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to require that contracted nonprofit organizations for the pilot program have the capacity to provide culturally competent training and services; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

Your Committee urges advocates of this measure to determine an appropriate amount to be inserted into the appropriation section of this measure so that it can be effectively considered by future committees as this measure advances through the legislative process.

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 S.B. No. 2483, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2483, S.D. 1, 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,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair