STAND. COM. REP. NO.  521-26

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2498

      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 Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARE HOMES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Office of Health Care Assurance of the Department of Health, to establish the Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency; Hawaii Insurers Council; and Navian Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that many licensed care homes in central Oahu operate in aging facilities and serve kupuna and other vulnerable residents who face heightened risks during natural disasters, climate related events, and extended utility outages.  Your Committee further finds that strengthening the resilience of these facilities is essential to protecting resident health and safety and reducing strain on emergency and social service systems.  This measure supports those goals by establishing a pilot program to assist eligible care homes in implementing structural and operational improvements that enhance disaster preparedness and continuity of care.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that the provisions of this measure shall be conducted by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency only, rather than in conjunction with the Office of Health Care Assurance of the Department of Health.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2498, 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. 2498, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair