CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 113

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 447

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 447, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Hiring Pilot Program within the Department of Health for recruitments initiated before July 1, 2028, to include an amended hiring procedure for delegated position classifications, certain flexibilities regarding minimum qualifications for positions having a salary range at or below SR-10, the ability to directly hire certain individuals into a civil service position if certain conditions are met, and the authority to make certain temporary appointments at the merited civil service pay scale without step limitation.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Department of Health's current vacancy rate is at 29.8 percent, totaling one thousand forty-six open positions, revealing a severe staffing shortage that impedes the State's ability to quickly assess public health issues, develop effective public health policy, and instill confidence in residents regarding the State's ability to protect their health and well-being. Your Committee on Conference further finds that granting the Director of Health express authority over certain human resources matters would allow the Department of Health to retain staff and address public health issues more expeditiously. This measure increases the efficiency of the Department of Health's hiring process by requiring the delegation of certain human resources services from the Department of Human Resources Development to the Department of Health until June 30, 2028.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 447, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 447, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ HENRY J.C. AQUINO Co-Chair
____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair