CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 167-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1541

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Exempt certain positions in the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health and the Hawaii State Hospital from civil service; and

(2) Authorize the Director of Health to appoint two additional associate administrators and two project managers for the Hawaii State Hospital or a secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Health to convert the positions within the Hawaii State Hospital exempted from civil service by this measure to civil service by no later than June 30, 2031;

(2) Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair	____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair
____________________________ BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE Co-Chair	____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA Co-Chair
____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair	____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair