STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1016-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 676

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 676, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support health care security professionals by classifying assault against these professionals as felony assault in the second degree.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Queen's Health System, Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital, The Queen's Medical Center-West Oahu, Hawaii‑American Nurses Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Adventist Health Castle, and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, it is a misdemeanor to assault a health care security professional. Your Committee further finds that health care security professionals are at increased risk of sustaining violent injuries due to the nature of their profession. Your Committee also finds that health care security professionals provide a safe work place environment for all staff and patients. This measure recognizes the critical role health care security professionals play as frontline staff in violent situations and as essential members of the health care team by classifying assault against these professionals as felony assault in the second degree.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definition of "health care security professionals" to specify that the training received by the individual employed by a health care facility be specialized; and

(2) 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 Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 676, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 676, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair