HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

129

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH AUTHORITY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


SECTION 1.  The Hawaii health authority was established in 2009 as an autonomous body responsible for the overall health planning for the State and for determining the future capacity needs for health providers, facilities, equipment, and support services providers.  However, the legislature finds that the authority has been dormant since late 2014, and needs to be reinvigorated and provided the necessary funding to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

The purpose of this Act is to enable the Hawaii health authority to fulfill its duties and responsibilities, which include developing a comprehensive health plan for all individuals in the State and submitting the plan to the legislature, by:

(1)  Appropriating funds to the authority for the hiring of an executive director and other staff and expenses necessary for the authority; and

(2)  Requiring the authority to submit an updated comprehensive health plan, including its findings and recommendations, to the legislature.

     SECTION 2.  Section 322H-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§322H-1[]]  Hawaii health authority; establishment.  (a)  There is established within the department of budget and finance for administrative purposes the Hawaii health authority.  The authority shall be an autonomous public body corporate and politic and an instrumentality of the State.

     (b)  The authority shall [be composed of] comprise nine members appointed by the governor as provided in section 26-34; provided that three members shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the speaker of the house of representatives and three members shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the president of the senate.  All members shall be appointed for terms of four years each.

     (c)  [One member shall be selected to be the executive director and confirmed by a majority vote of a quorum of the members of the Hawaii health authority.] The authority shall hire an executive director who shall be exempt from chapter 76 and other staff necessary to assist in the performance of the authority's duties and responsibilities.  The staff of the authority shall be hired without regard to chapter 76; provided that the executive director and staff shall be eligible for participation in state employee benefit plans.

     (d)  Each member shall hold office until the member's successor is appointed and qualified.

     (e)  Five members shall constitute a quorum, whose affirmative vote shall be necessary for all valid actions by the authority.

     (f)  The authority may incur expenses as it finds necessary to perform its duties and responsibilities."

     SECTION 3.  Section 322H-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:

     "(e)  The authority shall submit a comprehensive health plan for all individuals in the State, including its findings and recommendations, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2012.  The authority shall submit an updated comprehensive health plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the hiring of an executive director and other staff and expenses necessary for the Hawaii health authority to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of budget and finance for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Hawaii Health Authority; Hiring of Employees; Comprehensive Health Plan; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii Health Authority (HHA) to submit an updated comprehensive health plan to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds for the hiring of an executive director and other staff and other expenses necessary for HHA to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

 

 

 

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