STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1544

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 12

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 12 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP MINIMUM PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TRAINING PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to convene a task force to identify and develop minimum professional standards for community health worker training programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Community Health Worker Association; Kula no nā Poʻe Hawaiʻi; Kaʻu Rural Health Community Association, Inc.; National Association of Community Health Workers; AlohaCare; and six individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from Papa Ola Lōkahi.

Your Committee finds that community health workers are vital links between their home communities and medical and public health resources. Your Committee further finds that ensuring proper training standards for community health workers will strengthen workforce quality and improve health equity across the State. This measure convenes a task force to develop professional standards for community health worker training programs to ensure that all community health workers receive standardized, high-quality training that equips them with the necessary knowledge and skills.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding to the membership of the task force one representative from each of the following organizations:

(A) Papa Ola Lokahi;

(B) Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community Health Worker Alliance;

(C) Hawaii Primary Care Association; and

(D) A community-based grassroots organization, such as Kaʻu Rural Health Community Association, Inc.; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 12, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 12, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair