STAND. COM. REP. NO. 631

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1432

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1432 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHANGES TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONCERNING PATIENTS, THE COUNTY OF KALAWAO, AND THE KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Kalaupapa State Historical Area;

(2) Authorize the Department of Health to continue providing services statewide to Hansen's disease patients living in the community; and

(3) Repeal sections of chapter 326, Hawaii Revised Statutes, upon the one-year anniversary of the passing of the last patient resident of Kalaupapa as affirmed in the Governor's proclamation.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, one member of the Maui County Council, Ka ʻOhana O Kalaupapa, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that the county of Kalawao consists of a portion of the island of Molokai commonly known as the Kalaupapa Settlement in the County of Kalawao. Your Committees also find that the County of Kalawao is under the jurisdiction and control of the Department of Health. Your Committees further find that there are many other stakeholders that care about the future of the Kalaupapa Settlement and the preservation of the historical, cultural, and environmental significance of the County of Kalawao. This measure recognizes the historic and cultural significance of Kalaupapa and commemorates those resources by establishing the Kalaupapa State Historical Area for the long-term preservation and use of the settlement and the historic and cultural resources located throughout the peninsula.

Your Committees note the concerns raised during the hearing for this measure, that the details regarding the permanent transfer of powers and duties of the Department of Health over Kalaupapa Settlement to other governmental or qualified non‑governmental entities should be more transparent to and inclusive of Molokai community groups, the Legislature, and the public. Therefore, your Committees request that the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands collaborate to develop and submit a preliminary plan to your Committees twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2026. Your Committees further request that the plan include the economic details related to the permanent transfer, including the financial impact to the State and any plans to improve aging infrastructure in the Kalaupapa Settlement.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying legislative findings to include that there are many stakeholders other than the Department of Health and other state agencies that care about the future of the Kalaupapa Settlement and the preservation of the historical, cultural, and environmental significance of the County of Kalawao;

(2) Inserting language requiring the Department of Health, in developing a plan for the permanent transfer of the powers and duties of the Department and any other state agency over Kalaupapa Settlement to other governmental or qualified non-governmental entities, to include Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa and a topside community organization from Molokai in the transition planning team;

(3) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1432, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1432, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair