STAND. COM. REP. NO. 394

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1304

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1304 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Native Hawaiian public policy advisory council to be administratively housed within the Lieutenant Governor's Office on a temporary basis.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Native Hawaiian Task Force, and fourteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, burden, and adverse outcomes of diseases and higher mortality rates.  Disparities simply imply differences.  Health equity refers to the attainment of the highest level of health and well-being for all people in a particular society and valuing everyone equally.  In order to achieve health equity, efforts must be made to address avoidable inequalities and injustices.  

     Senate Resolution No. 60, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2014, created a Native Hawaiian health task force, to specifically improve the health of Native Hawaiians with implications for other Pacific Islanders and all people of Hawai‘i by focusing on health inequities that are preventable and avoidable.  The goal of the task force was to articulate priority areas that will help to advance health equity for Native Hawaiians, and in turn, the health of Hawai‘i's entire population.  The framework and recommendations by the task force discussed were embraced by community members, agencies, government, and individuals in addition to those who view themselves as native-serving institutions.  This work was community- and land-focused and emphasized Native Hawaiian values and aspirations.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the name of the council to the Native Hawaiian Health Advisory Council;

     (2)  Establishing the Council permanently and changing the administrative placement of the Council to the Office of Health Equity of the Department of Health;

     (3)  Specifying that the Office of Health Equity of the Department of Health shall be responsible for selecting all members of the Native Hawaiian Health Advisory Council, except the two members representing the general community;

     (4)  Designating the Chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, or the Chair's designee, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, or the Chief Executive Officer's designee, as ex officio, nonvoting members of the Native Hawaiian Health Advisory Council;

     (5)  Changing the legislator members of the Council; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1304, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1304, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Hawaiian Affairs,

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MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Chair