STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1449

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1368

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1368, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL FACILITIES SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the Office of Health Care Assurance to offset its operating costs and to ensure the provision of quality health care to residents of the State.

     Specifically, this measure changes the name of the hospital and medical facilities special fund to the Office of Health Care Assurance special fund and allows the Office to use moneys in the special fund to offset its operating expenses, in addition to offsetting its educational program expenses.  This measure also increases annual authorized expenditures from the special fund from $230,000 to $300,000.  In addition, this measure directs various licensure fees and all administrative penalties to be deposited into the special fund.  Fines collected for violations relating to adult residential care homes are to be deposited into the special fund rather than into the general fund.

     No comments were submitted on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will provide additional funding for the Office of Health Care Assurance to carry out its duties in lieu of annual budget requests.

     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 H.B. No. 1368, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair