STAND. COM. REP. NO.  166-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1616

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1616 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH PLANNING,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve health outcomes for the people of Hawaii by updating the Hawaii State Planning Act's objectives for health to include a commitment to eliminating health disparities.  Specifically, this bill updates the objectives to:

 

     (1)  Explicitly address social determinants of health to reflect the latest medical findings relating to the health needs of Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos; and

 

     (2)  Prioritize programs, services, interventions, and activities that address identified social determinants of health to reduce health disparities experienced by these groups.

 

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Office of Language Access, Office of Community Services, Community Alliance for Mental Health, United Self Help, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Waimanalo Health Center, Hoola Lahui Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, HealthyPacific.Org, and several individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committees respectfully request that subsequent committees consider inserting a funding mechanism to enable the implementation of this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1616 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Economic Development & Business.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs and Health,

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair

 

____________________________

FAYE P. HANOHANO, Chair