STAND. COM. REP. NO. 142

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1234

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1234 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PANDEMIC RESPONSE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize use of funds appropriated from the emergency and budget reserve fund, from the amounts received by the State from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act, for the purchase and distribution of personal protective equipment and industrial hygiene products to state departments and attached agencies.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Defense, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Office of Community Services, State Procurement Office, Department of Education, Department of Transportation, and Hawaii Primary Care Association.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 9, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020 (Act 9), appropriated moneys received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Public Law 116-136, for the purchase of personal protective equipment.  Your Committee finds that in addition to personal protective equipment, funds are needed to purchase other hygiene products.  This measure amends Act 9 to allow moneys appropriated from the CARES Act to purchase industrial hygiene products and clarifies that the items may be purchased for all state department and agencies.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting a blank appropriation amount;

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion;

 

     (3)  Amending section 1 to add that the moneys appropriated may be also used to purchase coronavirus disease 2019 tests; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     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. 1234, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1234, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair