STAND. COM. REP. NO. 248

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1266

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Economic Development and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1266 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to encourage the development and expansion of skilled nursing facilities by establishing an enterprise zone for skilled nursing facilities operating in the State.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Avalon Health Care, Inc. and one individual.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that this measure will help to provide the infrastructure needed for the continuum of care for the State's growing aging population by creating a tax incentive by exempting skilled nursing facilities operating within a designated enterprise zone from the state general excise tax.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Economic Development and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1266 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Economic Development and Technology,

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair