STAND. COM. REP. NO. 777

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 447

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 S.B. No. 447 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address staff shortages in the State's public health workforce.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a hiring pilot program within the Department of Health that includes:

(A) An amended hiring procedure for delegated position classifications;

(B) Certain flexibilities regarding minimum qualifications for positions having a salary range at or below SR-10;

(C) The ability to directly hire certain individuals into a civil service position if certain conditions are met; and

(D) The authority to make certain temporary appointments at the merited civil service pay scale without step limitation;

(2) Makes the pilot program available to recruitments initiated before July 1, 2028; and

(3) Requires reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State's ability to quickly assess and address public health issues is impeded by a large number of vacant positions within the Department of Health. Your Committee further finds that granting the Director of Health express authority over certain human resources matters would allow the Department of Health to address public health issues more expeditiously.

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 S.B. No. 447 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair