STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1417

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1438

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1438, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit home health care agencies from providing services outside the scope of their facility license.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and one individual.

Your Committee finds that some operators of home care agencies provide skilled nursing services to clients that are not rendered by a licensed nurse. Your Committee further finds that because the Board of Nursing may not have the authority to regulate unlicensed providers of nursing care employed by home care agencies, providing the Department of Health with enforcement authority will ensure appropriate services are provided and more effectively ensure patient safety.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1438, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair