STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2302

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2545

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 Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2545 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the June 30, 2027, deadline by which the Maui State Veterans Home must be assimilated into a state agency having a Maui affiliation; and

(2) Require the transfer of the Maui State Veterans Home to be completed as soon as practicable.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, Office of Veterans' Services, Hawaii Military Affairs Council, and one individual.

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

Your Committee finds that Act 99, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024 (Act 99), requires the transfer of the Maui State Veterans Home to the Oahu Regional Health Care System or a state agency having a Maui affiliation before June 30, 2027. However, your Committee further finds that the transfer of the Maui State Veterans Home is highly complex because of logistical, labor relations, and financial issues. This measure enables this important project to continue moving forward without time constraints, while also affording an extended opportunity for the formulation of a state agency having a Maui affiliation that is capable of fulfilling both ownership and operational oversight responsibilities for the new Maui State Veterans Home.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2545, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2545, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair