STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3634

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2343

H.D. 1

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. 2343, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure the smooth transition of authority over the Maui State Veterans Home from the State Department of Defense to a state agency having a Maui affiliation.

Specifically, this measure repeals the specific deadline by which the Maui State Veterans Home must be assimilated into a state agency having a Maui affiliation and instead requires that the assimilation be completed as soon as practicable.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Hawai`i Office of Veterans Services, Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Oahu Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

Your Committee finds that Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, requires the transfer of the Maui State Veterans Home to the Oahu Regional Health Care System or a state agency having a Maui affiliation by June 27, 2027.  However, your Committee recognizes that this transfer is highly complex due to logistical, labor relations, and financial issues.  Your Committee believes that the repeal of the specific transfer deadline, as provided by this measure, is necessary to ensure that this transfer occurs without unnecessary disruptions to the operations of the Maui State Veterans Home.

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. 2343, H.D. 1, 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