STAND. COM. REP. NO. 717

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1231

       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. 1231, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATEWIDE HEALTH PLANNING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a more coordinated and cost-effective statewide health planning and resource development program.

 

     Specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Makes the Department of Health alternatively responsible for the State Health Planning and Development Agency's duties;

 

     (2)  Transfers administrative responsibility of the state health planning and development special fund from the State Health Planning and Development Agency to an unspecified entity; and

 

     (3)  Requires that any moneys in excess of $2,000,000 remaining in the state health planning and development special fund at the close of each fiscal year shall lapse to the credit of the general fund.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from Hawaii Pacific Health and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee notes that the Governor has proposed reducing the scope of the State Health Planning and Development Agency and transferring the administration of the certificate of need program to the Department of Health.  Your Committee finds that making the Department of Health alternatively responsible for the duties of the Agency will help to meet the Governor's budgetary goals.  Your Committee also finds that excess moneys from the state health planning and development special fund should lapse to the credit of the general fund.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, 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. 1231, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1231, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair