STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1080-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 3083

      S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 3083, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make emergency appropriations to the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to pay for operations and provision of current levels of service at a number of hospitals.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates $14,000,000 to be used by Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, excluding Maui Memorial Medical Center, to bring current accounts payable balances that are due to essential vendors.  The measure also appropriates $11,000,000 for Maui Memorial Medical Center to be expended only if it is unable to close on an operating loan by the effective date of the Act.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the President, Finance Information Systems and Audit Committee, East Hawaii Region Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, West Hawaii Region Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, Kauai Regional System Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, and the Oahu Regional Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Regional Chief Executive Officer of Maui Medical Center; Hawaii County Council; Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association; and Faith Action for Community Equity. 

     Your Committee finds that it is necessary to make an emergency appropriation for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to pay current and past due balances to essential vendors, reduce accounts payable, and allow operation and provision of current levels of health care service in its facilities throughout the State.

     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 S.B. No. 3083, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair