STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1476

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 189

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 189 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP BETTER MISSION-DRIVEN HIRING AND TRAINING OF INTERPRETERS EMPLOYED AT ITS FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) convene a task force to facilitate improved, mission-driven hiring and training of culturally-accepted interpreters to assist non-English speaking populations seeking care at HHSC facilities.

Your Committee did not receive testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation provides high quality health care services to residents and visitors throughout the State and serves as a vital component of Hawai‘i's system of health care. The HHSC consists of a network of hospitals and clinics, some of which are located in remote, rural, and low-populated areas, HHSC facilities often provide safety-net services for neighbor island acute care and for long-term care in the State, as they serve all people regardless of whether an individual has health insurance or the ability to pay for the health care service they receive. Your Committee further finds that HHSC's vision is to be recognized as a progressive model for an accessible, integrated, patient-centered, and fiscally responsible health care system focused on assuring high quality care to improve the health of Hawai‘i's underserved communities.

Your Committee also finds that members of Hawai‘i's non-English speaking populations are often reluctant and intimidated to seek medical care due to the lack of properly trained interpreters in HHSC medical facilities who are able to assist those seeking medical care, who may have language and cultural barriers. Your Committee believes that the scope of this measure should be expanded to include the involvement of the Department of Health and to request that the task force also create culturally-accepted educational materials on preventative care and early intervention to further assist non-English speaking clientele.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Health to serve as co-convener of the task force;

(2) Requesting the task force to create culturally-accepted educational materials on preventative care and early intervention to assist non-English speaking populations seeking care at Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities;

(3) Clarifying that the Regional Chief Executive Officer of the East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation is requested to serve as chairperson;

(4) Urging that two members of a nonprofit Micronesian advocacy group serve as members of the task force;

(5) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; 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 Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 189, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 189, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair