STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3231

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2498

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 Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to establish a Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to assist eligible care home facilities to implement structural and operational resilience improvements; and

(2) Require a report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Navian Hawaii, Hawaii Insurers Council, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

Your Committee finds that aging care homes in Central Oahu, serving seniors, people with disabilities, and medically fragile individuals are highly vulnerable to natural hazards, such as hurricanes, extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and prolonged utility outages. Strengthening the physical and operational resilience of care homes directly contributes to safeguarding the lives and health of these vulnerable groups. By requiring and appropriating funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to establish a Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program, this measure preserves the well-being and safety of the State's most vulnerable during natural disasters and other emergencies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2055, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair