STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1308

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1448

S.D. 2

H.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. 1448, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR CONSTRUCTION DEFECT REMEDIATION AT THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to the Department of Health to fund construction defect remediation of the Hale Hoʻola Building at the Hawaii State Hospital, including the payment of legal fees and costs for special deputy attorneys general.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Health; and State Council on Mental Health. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Hale Hoʻola Building at the Hawaii State Hospital has developed significant structural issues, including water leaks and mold growth, which compromise patient care and staff safety. Despite ongoing efforts to hold the contractor accountable, remediation is urgently needed to ensure a safe and functional facility. This measure provides emergency funding to address these defects and protect the well-being of hospital patients and employees.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the expenditure ceiling language to an unspecified amount; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $10,660,000.

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. 1448, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1448, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair