STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2178-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 59

S.D. 1

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. 59, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONS IN THE STATE WITHOUT A HAWAII-ISSUED LICENSE DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Governor to establish procedures to authorize certain health-care professionals to engage in the practice of their respective professions in the State without a Hawaii-issued license during a state of emergency or local state of emergency declared by the Governor or a county mayor, respectively, pursuant to chapter 127A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, under certain conditions.

Your Committee did not receive any written testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is a geographically isolated island state with limited health-care workforce capacity in certain regions, particularly in rural areas. Your Committee further finds that establishing streamlined emergency licensure flexibilities would enable the swift deployment of qualified health care professionals, thereby enhancing the State's disaster-response capabilities.

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. 59, S.D. 1, 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