STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2197

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3143

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. 3143 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 (in which 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 several instances of asbestos disturbance have been reported at Kinau Hale. Although multiple ambient air testing confirms that the air in the building is currently safe, there is still a risk of future asbestos disturbances that could potentially require immediate relocation and significant remediation.

Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of Health requesting an appropriation of $5,000,000 for:

(1) The relocation of staff and equipment in the event of asbestos disturbance or other catastrophic building failure requiring immediate evacuation and significant remediation;

(2) Preliminary planning for redevelopment of the parcel; and

(3) Temporary repairs and implementation of mitigative measures to keep Kinau Hale safe for employees during the interim period.

Therefore, your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Ways and Means consider inserting an appropriation amount of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount from $1,500,000 to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion;

(2) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 3143, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3143, 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