STAND. COM. REP. NO. 647-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1541

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt certain positions in the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health and Hawaii State Hospital from civil service.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Health continues to experience workforce shortages in highly specialized roles that support mental health services, developmental disability programs, and operations at the Hawaii State Hospital. These vacancies place added strain on existing staff, disrupt patient care, and slow the State's ability to meet federal requirements, court-ordered mandates, and increasing clinical and operational demands. This measure provides the Department of Health and the Hawaii State Hospital with greater flexibility to recruit qualified professionals more efficiently and enhance the delivery of essential health and safety services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor,

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair