STAND. COM. REP. NO. 683

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1234

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1234, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to help remedy the poor health statistics of native Hawaiians in the State.

 

     Specifically, this measure establishes a state designation of native Hawaiian health centers that follows the mandates provided for the federal Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act.  This measure also recognizes that, until such time as there is a sovereign Hawaiian nation recognized by the United States and the State of Hawaii, the Department of Health shall coordinate with Papa Ola Lokahi to oversee the implementation of state health programs resulting from the designation of native Hawaiian health centers.

 

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from McKinley High School, Waianae Comprehensive Health Center, Native Hawaiian Traditional Healing, Archinoctics, SEE/RESCUE, Bendet, Fidell, Sakai & Lee, and one individual.  Papa Ola Lokahi offered comments.

 

     Your Committee believes that the establishment of a state designation of native Hawaiian health centers is necessary and will benefit the health of native Hawaiians in the State.

 

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Clarifying that there is no blood-quantum requirement for membership on the governing boards of any native Hawaiian health center in section 2 of the measure;

 

(2)  Deleting subsection (b) of the new section 321‑   , Hawaii Revised Statutes, as being redundant because federal law or regulation would preempt state rules; and

 

(3)  Inserting language in section 3 to acknowledge that health care is provided by agencies other than the Department of Health.

 

Your Committee also made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

 

     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. 1234, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1234, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair