STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3632

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1541

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address staffing challenges faced by the Department of Health.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Exempts from the civil service:

(A) The federal initiatives operations coordinator in the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health; and

(B) Five associate administrators, two project managers, one security manager, two security officers, one building manager, and two investigators in the Hawaii State Hospital; and

(2) Authorizes 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 received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that certain positions within the Department of Health do not fit within existing civil service classes because their duties and responsibilities require a high level of specialization, advanced knowledge, and unique skill sets. Exempting these positions from civil service will give the Department of Health greater flexibility to address staffing shortages by improving the Department's ability to recruit and retain qualified individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1541, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair