Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1358, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to remove projects dedicated to meeting the State's obligations under court orders from exemptions from Certificate of Need (CON) requirements.

Momilani Elementary School PTSA, Pearl City Community Association, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center testified in support of this bill.

Your Committee realizes that certain state agencies and organizations may have valid reasons for wanting CON exemptions. Your Committee also believes community input on the concerns of the appropriateness and compatibility of certain projects on their neighborhoods are also important.

The CON process for exemptions is difficult to maintain for the State Health Planning and Development Agency, especially when keeping track of projects that are exempt versus non-exempt projects. Your Committee feels this bill addresses these concerns.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1358, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.