STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2157-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE CERTIFICATION AND REGULATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Auditor conduct a sunrise review of the certification and regulation of community health workers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Health; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Kula no na Po‘e Hawaii o Papakōlea, Kewalo, Kalāwahine; Hawai‘i Community Health Worker Association; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that community health workers serve in unique and important roles, such as community health advisors, health advocates, outreach educators, community health representatives, and peer health educators. Your Committee further finds that community health workers are not presently required to be regulated by the State. This measure therefore requests the Auditor to conduct a sunrise review of the certification and regulation of community health workers, as proposed by Senate Bill No. 2882, Regular Session of 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair