STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1381
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: S.B. No. 1156
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 Committees on Pandemic & Disaster Preparedness and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 1156, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"
beg leave to report as follows:
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Hawai‘i Primary Care Association.
Your Committees find that the distribution of vaccinations is a key element in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Committees note that while the federal government is paying for COVID-19 vaccine doses, the State is still burdened with implementation and administrative costs. The Department of Health also plays a pivotal role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and requires sufficient funding to protect the State's residents. This measure is necessary to provide the Department of Health with the critical resources to implement the State's vaccination plan and ensure the continuation of the State's efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting emergency appropriations of unspecified amounts for various COVID-19 response efforts;
(2) Requiring that should any project or program paid for by state funds become eligible for federal reimbursement, those federal funds shall be deposited into the general fund; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committees respectfully request that should your Committee on Finance hear this measure, that it consider appropriating the following dollar amounts received from the Department of Health:
(1) $3,336,000 for the continuation of contracted disease investigation, contact tracing, and first contact callers for COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts;
(2) $250,000 for additional supplies for front-line public health workers;
(3) $21,667 for additional testing, personal protective equipment, and industrial hygiene services for Kalaupapa residents traveling to Oahu for medical care;
(4) $275,000 for overtime pay for public health nurses for COVID-19 surge response efforts;
(5) $75,000 for the Hawaii district health office to rent a temporary space for contracted workers;
(6) $275,000 to contract out first contact calling services for contact tracing support;
(7) $2,000,000 for tests contracted with Diagnostic Labs and Clinical Labs, including the Department of Public Safety inmate testing, and for the implementation of pediatric‑oriented testing strategy; and
(8) $3,300 for tuberculosis clearance requirements for health care volunteers in vaccination operations.
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 S.B. No. 1156, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1156, S.D. 2, 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,
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____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair |
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____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair |
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