STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1003

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1432

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1432, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHANGES TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONCERNING PATIENTS, THE COUNTY OF KALAWAO, AND THE KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the laws relating to the administration of the County of Kalawao.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes the Kalaupapa State Historical Area;

(2) Repeals certain sections of chapter 326, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the County of Kalawao and Kalaupapa Settlement one year after the passing of the last patient resident of Kalaupapa;

(3) Authorizes the Department of Health to continue providing services statewide to Hansen's disease patients; and

(4) Requires the Department of Health, in developing a plan for the permanent transfer of the powers and duties of the Department and any other state agency over Kalaupapa Settlement to other governmental or qualified non‑governmental entities, to include community organizations from Molokai in the transition planning team.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Disability and Communication Access Board, and two individuals.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa.

Your Committees recognize that the County of Kalawao, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health, consists of a portion of the island of Molokai that is commonly known as the Kalaupapa Settlement. Your Committees also recognize that members of the community care about the future of the area and wish to preserve its historical, cultural, and environmental significance. Your Committees believe that this measure is an appropriate mechanism for that preservation.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Director of Health to notify the Governor of the passing of the last full- or part-time patient resident of Kalaupapa;

(2) Requiring the Department of Health, in developing a plan for the permanent transfer of powers and duties over Kalaupapa Settlement, to include in the transition planning team a community organization in the county of Kalawao that is designated in P.L. 111-11, title VII, section 7108; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1432, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1432, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair