STAND. COM. REP. NO. 827

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1156

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1156, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to the Department of Health to provide funds to implement the State's coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination plan.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Primary Care Association.

Your Committee finds that although the federal government is paying for COVID-19 vaccine doses, it is not paying for the costs of delivering and administering the vaccine. These administrative costs include the purchase of needles, syringes, personal protective equipment, and the time required for health care professionals to perform this vital responsibility away from their normal duties. Your Committee further finds that the moneys appropriated by this measure will help to ensure that the Department of Health can pay for these administrative costs and efficiently and effectively implement the State's COVID-19 vaccination plan.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1156, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1156, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair