STAND. COM. REP. 1090

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 664

S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 664, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VETERANS AFFAIRS LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide general obligation bonds and an appropriation for a veterans affairs long-term care facility at the Hilo Medical Center.

The bill would fund the State's portion of the two hundred-bed long-term care facility that is contingent on the federal government's appropriation of $29,250,000, which is sixty-five per cent of the cost.

Your Committees received unanimous support for the bill from numerous testifiers including the state Department of Defense, the County of Hawaii, Kona Community Hospital, the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, the Hilo Medical Center Foundation, and several private citizens.

Your Committees find that a veterans affairs long-term care facility would fulfill a growing need on the Big Island. The facility would also assist the community by boosting construction activity in Hilo, generating permanent and support staff positions, improving instruction at the University of Hawaii at Hilo by providing expanded clinical and professional experience, and improving medical relationships with, and mutual support of, the Hilo Medical Center.

Your Committees has left the general obligation bond amount blank to allow further discussions on this matter.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 664, S.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Health,

 

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DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair

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KEN ITO, Chair