CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 48-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.B. No. 2814

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2814, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT,"

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 bill is to effectively care for the residents of Kalaupapa Settlement by requiring the Department of Health (DOH) to:

(1) Submit annual reports to the Legislature that detail DOH's efforts to improve the financial and management operations of Kalaupapa; and

(2) Track separately, whenever appropriate and possible, patient and nonpatient costs.

 

Your Committee on Conference recognizes that many years ago, Hansen's disease patients were forced into exile at Kalaupapa Settlement to be isolated from society. While the patients are now free to come and go as they please, the State has acknowledged the injustice that occurred and has pledged that the remaining patients may live out their lives at Kalaupapa, and has committed to caring for them.

In 2003, the Auditor conducted an audit that confirmed the allegations of excessive or inappropriate expenditures and preferential treatment toward workers. There are approximately 39 patients living in Kalaupapa, most of whom are elderly. The patients are living out the final years of their lives with the burden of poor administration of Kalaupapa Settlement. Your Committee on Conference believes this measure will address the misuse of funds and inadequate care of patients, and reaffirms the State's commitment to the patients that they may live the remainder of their lives peacefully and comfortably in Kalaupapa.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

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 H.B. No. 2814, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2814, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________

ROSALYN BAKER, Co-Chair

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Co-Chair

____________________________

RUSSELL KOKUBUN, Co-Chair

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Co-Chair