STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2105

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2471

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2471 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A STATE HOSPITAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the design and construction of a new state mental health hospital to replace the Hawaii State Hospital.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Health; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the number of individuals and the severity of their needs have exceeded the available physical space available under the current configuration of the Hawaii State Hospital, which has not seen an increase in available bed capacity since 1992.  The construction of a new and secure facility to replace the Hawaii State Hospital will effectively address the needs of Hawaii residents, improve operations of the Hawaii State Hospital, and provide an effective continuum of mental health supports.

     Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii State Hospital master plan, which was originally completed in 2005 and updated in 2015, calls for the design and construction of a facility that will serve one hundred forty-four patients.  This new facility will have treatment, activity, and dining facilities within its perimeter, as well as security and design features that will improve patient and hospital staff safety.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the maximum amount of general obligation bonds to be issued to $160,500,000;

     (2)  Amending the appropriation amounts specified for design to $20,000,000 and for construction to $140,500,000;

     (3)  Inserting language that designates the Department of Health as the expending agency of the appropriation; and

     (4)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2471, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2471, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair