STAND. COM. REP. NO.  885-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2293

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2293, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HOSPITAL SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide increased access to medical care and create more sustainable hospitals by continuing the Hospital Sustainability Program established in 2012.

The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and The Queen's Health Systems provided testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting provisions that would have exempted the Hospital Sustainability Program Special Fund from the requirement to pay five percent of all of its receipts for central services expenses pursuant to section 36-27, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (2)  Making the appropriation in an unspecified amount;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to June 29, 2030, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2293, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2293, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair