STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2177-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 182

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 182 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ENGAGE WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER FEDERAL AND MILITARY PARTNERS TO EXPLORE ESTABLISHING A MILITARY-CIVILIAN TRAUMA PARTNERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN THE HAWAII TRAUMA SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Governor and Department of Health to engage with the United States Department of Defense and other federal and military partners to explore establishing a military-civilian trauma partnership to strengthen the Hawaii trauma system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that despite its advances in trauma care, the State continues to face trauma-system capacity challenges related to geographic isolation, limited specialty trauma resources, and trauma center bed availability. Your Committee further finds that collaboration between military and civilian trauma systems has been successfully implemented in other states through initiatives such as the Military-Civilian Partnership for Trauma Readiness, which strengthens trauma-system capacity while supporting military medical readiness. Your Committee also finds that increased collaboration between Tripler Army Medical Center, the Department of Health, and civilian trauma centers would improve trauma-system capacity, reduce delays in accessing definitive trauma care, and enhance disaster- and mass-casualty preparedness across the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 182 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Health.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair