STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1479

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 341

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 341, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST HAWAII ISLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist West Hawaii Community Health Center, Inc., a Hawaii nonprofit corporation doing business as Hawaii Island Community Health Center, in financing the costs of purchasing or leasing land and designing, constructing, improving, purchasing, and equipping primary care health care facilities on the island of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Primary Care Association, AlohaCare, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the limitations of health care infrastructure on the island of Hawaii contribute to disparities in access to primary health care for the island's residents. Your Committee believes that the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to the Hawaii Island Community Health Center can facilitate the construction of new and expanded primary care infrastructure on the island without imposing an undue financial burden on taxpayers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 H.B. No. 341, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 341, H.D. 1, 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