STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1285

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   S.B. No. 952

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 952, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KAHUKU HOSPITAL,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to enable Kahuku Hospital to continue its operations in order to serve the residents and visitors of the north shore of Oahu.

 

     Specifically, this measure authorizes the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to acquire Kahuku Hospital.  Under this measure:

 

(1)  None of the liabilities of Kahuku Hospital will become liabilities of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation;

 

(2)  The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, at its discretion, may retain any or all medical and nonmedical employees of Kahuku Hospital and may adjust the levels of services provided by Kahuku Hospital; and

 

(3)  Kahuku hospital will be exempt from the laws governing:

 

(A)  Public agency meetings;

 

(B)  Concessions on public property;

 

(C)  Tax clearances for contractors; and

 

(D)  Purchases of goods and services by, or on behalf of, Kahuku hospital.

 

This measure also appropriates an unspecified amount.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Medical Association, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Leahi Hospital, UPW/AFSCME, and twenty-eight individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from the State Procurement Office.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will enable Kahuku Hospital to continue its operations, preserve its hospital license, retain its certificate of need and critical access hospital designation, reorganize, and settle its debts.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 952, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair