STAND. COM. REP. NO. 611

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 984

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 984 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE ASSURANCE SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the annual expenditure ceiling of the Office of Health Care Assurance Special Fund to offset increasing operational expenses that include contracts to implement a new management information and background check system as well as diminish dependence on the general fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that this measure will enable the Department of Health to continue providing core services while decreasing the Department's reliance on general funds by shifting certain administrative costs to the Office of Health Care Assurance Special Fund.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing the enhancement of the Office of Health Care Assurance's capacity to conduct investigations as a permissible use of the Office of Health Care Assurance Special Fund;

(2) Changing the proposed ceiling increase to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 984, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 984, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair