STAND. COM. REP. NO. 763

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 153

       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 S.B. No. 153, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATURAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Health to assess the structural integrity of all hospitals and nursing homes in Hawaii to determine their ability to withstand different types of natural disasters.

     The Healthcare Association of Hawaii submitted comments in support of this measure.  The Department of Defense, Hawaii Coalition of Care Home Administrators, and the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds there is concern about whether nursing home facilities in the State are designed to withstand a major natural disaster.  Because shelter capacity in the State is not sufficient to absorb a full evacuation of these facilities, it would be advisable for these facilities to have the capability to "shelter-in-place" their residents.  To do this, however, the facilities need to be designed and constructed to withstand severe natural disasters and shelter their occupants.  Although hospitals are generally more prepared for emergencies, they, too, deserve an evaluation of their ability to withstand a natural disaster.  Accordingly, it is your Committee's intent to require the Department of Health to assess the structural integrity of nursing homes and hospitals in the State.

     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. 153, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair