STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1153

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 341

H.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 341, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST HAWAII ISLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center to purchase or lease land on the island of Hawaii and develop primary care health care facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, and AlohaCare.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that limitations in health care infrastructure, whether due to geographic isolation, financial constraints, or other shortages, contribute to long-standing disparities in access to primary health care for residents on the island of Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center is a nonprofit, federally qualified health center located on the island of Hawaii that plays a critical role in providing comprehensive, affordable, and accessible health care to Hawaii island residents who often face significant barriers to receiving timely medical attention. Your Committee additionally finds that through the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to the Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center, the State can help facilitate the construction of new and expanded primary care infrastructure without imposing undue financial strain on taxpayers. This measure financially supports the Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center to further address access to health care disparities through the expansion of health care infrastructure on the island of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2026; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 341, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 341, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair