STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1388

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 1018

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1018, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a two-year reorganization pilot project within the Department of Health to shift and reorganize the Department's functions, positions, and funding in the Behavioral Health Services Administration; Environmental Health Administration; General Administration, including the Office of the Director of Health; and Health Resources Administration.

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

Your Committee finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for greater flexibility, responsiveness, transparency, and accountability in how the State interacts with and responds to the community, particularly in the provision of health care services. Many current structures and processes have hindered or challenged agencies in their ability to responsively, promptly, effectively, and efficiently provide the services demanded by the public. Your Committee further finds that attempts by executive branch departments to modernize and realign programmatic and staffing structures through program reorganizations can take two or more years to complete, and program reorganizations are often not approved until long after the original purpose for the reorganization has lapsed.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the reorganization pilot program to begin with the reorganization of the Behavioral Health Services Administration;

(2) Specifying that the reorganization of the Behavioral Health Services Administration is to begin upon the approval of this measure;

(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 S.B. No. 1018, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1018, S.D. 2, 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