STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1029

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 843

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 843, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KAHUKU HOSPITAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to continue to give residents of the North Shore of Oahu ready access to emergency medical care, acute care, and preventive health care services, by allowing Kahuku Hospital to be acquired by the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC).

     The Department of Health, Kahuku Hospital, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, United Public Workers AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii Reserves, Inc., Leahi Hospital, Brigham Young University Hawaii, Koolau Loa Neighborhood Board No. 28, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Office of Information Practices commented on the measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Exempting the purchase of goods and services by or on behalf of Kahuku Hospital from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code and the law governing purchases of health and human services;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 843, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 843, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair