Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2979, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to transfer the functions and authority of the Department of Public Safety relating to uniformed security employees and security contracts at the health facilities of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

Specifically, this bill amends section 26-14.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to effect the transfer. The bill also includes standard language relating to the transfer of personnel, appropriations, records, and other property.

Your Committee finds that the transfer of this security force to the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation will facilitate more efficient supervision, management, and control of these security personnel regarding all their administrative and operational requirements. Your Committee further finds that this transfer does not in any way affect the existing ability or authority of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to use private contractor security forces at other hospitals within the Corporation's system.

Your Committee has amended this bill to clarify that the health facilities are under the operation, management, and control of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and not the Department of Public Safety, and that it is the functions and authority of the Department of Public Safety relating to security employees and contracts that are being transferred to the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2979, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2979, S.D. 2.