STAND. COM. REP. NO. 723

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1137

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1137, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to conduct criminal history record checks through the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on all persons employed or seeking employment with the corporation, current and prospective contactors, volunteers, and providers.

     Your Committee received one written comment on the measure.  Copies of written comments submitted to the Committee are available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that due to a shortage of health care workers, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation has recruited more out-of-state candidates for public health positions and services.  Currently, only in-state criminal record checks are being conducted.  Your Committee believes that this measure will enable both in-state and out-of-state criminal record checks to be conducted in an efficient and effective manner for the protection and safety of individuals treated and cared for within the Corporation's facilities.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by changing the effective date to January 1, 2050 to facilitate further discussion.

     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. 1137, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1137, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair