CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 77-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2576

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2576, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to clarify and streamline background check requirements for healthcare facility applicants, operators, and direct patient access employees.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the exemption from the fingerprint-based background check requirement to include state-licensed individuals who have previously submitted fingerprints for a background check as a condition of their licensure and the background check performed was comparable to that required by the Department of Health, rather than exempting only those individuals who will be working or volunteering at a licensed hospital and submitted fingerprints as a condition of their licensure;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2026; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2576, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2576, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair	____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair	____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair