THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1308

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to wahiawa general hospital.

 

 

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

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Wahiawa general hospital is the only hospital that provides emergency medical services in a vast geographical area, extending from Mililani to Wahiawa, Waialua, Sunset, and Kahuku, which encompasses nearly one-third of the island of Oahu.

     Over the past ten years, Wahiawa general hospital has experienced severe financial difficulties.  To address these circumstances, the hospital has cut programs, services, and personnel, but these changes have not remedied the hospital's financial deficit.

     The legislature further finds that the optimal way to decrease the hospital's financial deficit is to focus on critical services that include emergency medical care, long term care, and geriatric care.  The Wahiawa center for community health can assist patients who might lose services by the downsize of Wahiawa general hospital.  Although the hospital will downsize, services will be available for the community of Wahiawa.

     The purpose of this part is to provide desperately needed financial assistance to Wahiawa general hospital to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the people of the State by:

     (1)  Appropriating funds to support basic operations, staff salaries and benefits, and continued hospitalist physician services at Wahiawa general hospital; and

     (2)  Authorizing issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriating funds for financing capital improvement projects for Wahiawa general hospital.

     SECTION 2.  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 to support basic operations, staff salaries and benefits, and continued hospitalist physician services at Wahiawa general hospital; provided that:

     (1)  Wahiawa general hospital shall discontinue acute care services and focus only on emergency services, long term care, and geriatric care; and

     (2)  The director of health shall negotiate with Wahiawa general hospital for the terms of the release of funds appropriated under this section.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligations bonds in the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the purpose of financing capital improvement projects for Wahiawa general hospital; provided that:

     (1)  Wahiawa general hospital shall discontinue acute care services and focus only on emergency services, long term care, and geriatric care; and

     (2)  The director of health shall negotiate with Wahiawa general hospital for the terms of the release of funds appropriated under this section.

     SECTION 4.  The sums appropriated for the respective capital improvement projects set forth in section 3 shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2020, shall lapse as of that date.

PART II

     SECTION 6.  The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to the department of health for the director of health to perform a financial and performance audit of Wahiawa general hospital.

     SECTION 7.  (a)  The director of health shall perform a financial and performance audit of Wahiawa general hospital for the fiscal years 2012 through 2017.

     (b)  The director of health shall submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018.

     SECTION 8.  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 for the director of health to perform a financial and performance audit of Wahiawa general hospital for the fiscal years 2012 through 2017.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

PART III

     SECTION 9.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Wahiawa General Hospital; Operation and Staff; General Obligation Bonds; Audit; Department of Health; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to support basic operations, staff salaries and benefits, and continued hospitalist physician services at Wahiawa general hospital.  Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for financing capital improvement projects for Wahiawa general hospital.  Appropriates funds to the department of health to perform a financial and performance audit of Wahiawa general hospital.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.