STAND. COM. REP. NO. 476

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1003

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1003 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELATING TO COVID-19 EXPENDITURES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make emergency appropriations to the Department of Health for medical surge staffing and to implement vaccination plans.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Hawaii Primary Cary Association.

Your Committees find that the Department of Health will require financial support in distributing the highly needed COVID‑19 vaccination to residents of the State. Providing the vaccination to residents is a top priority of the State. Your Committees believe that additional funds may be needed to continue critical COVID-19 response programs and activities to ensure the health and welfare of Hawaii's residents.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting blank appropriation amounts;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1003, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1003, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair