STAND. COM. REP. NO.  261-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3158

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 3158 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION BACKGROUND CHECKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the safety of patients as well as employees of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) by authorizing Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history record checks on employees, applicants seeking employment, and current or prospective contractors, providers, or volunteers at any of HHSC's health facilities.

     HHSC and the Hawaii Government Employees Association testified in support of this bill.

     Currently, HHSC requires selective FBI checks.  The Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center conducts FBI checks on prospective HHSC employees only after a conditional offer of employment is made.  Federal law also allows FBI checks on HHSC employees and prospective employees who will have direct contact with children, the elderly, and disabled patients.  This bill expands HHSC's authority to perform these additional FBI checks.

     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. 3158 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair