001Good afternoon everyone and welcome. This joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Health and Human Services will come to order. Today's Wednesday, February 11th, and we're meeting in this room, conference room 225, and this hearing is being streamed live on YouTube. If this hearing is abruptly ends due to technical difficulties, the committee will reconvene on Friday, February 13 at 1 p.m. in conference room 229, which a notice will be posted on the legislaturator's website. And due to the number of measures before the committee and the volume of testimonies, um testimony will be limited to one minute per testifier. And in light of the the rain day we had on Monday, a lot of our hearings are being backed up because everything had to be rescheduled. So, I hope you will all
002uh be patient. If technical difficulties do arise during Zoom testimony, a committee may need to proceed to the next testifier, but we do have your written testimony. The purpose of today's hearing is to receive testimony on measures relating to student health and safety in schools, academic and workforce programs u and also with the University of Hawaii. So, we will start with our first item on the agenda. Uh I go welcome my chair uh yes >> from the big island. >> Yes. Thank you for HHS and with my vice chair um Senator Mel >> and my vice chair um Senator um Michelle Kedani. Okay. Senate Bill 2969 starting with Dana Moore testifying for Hawaii Community Health. I'm sorry. I'm say this is relating to the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry. Appropriates funds for
003the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain services provided by the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry. With that, Dana Moore not here. We're on Zoom. >> Aloha. Can you hear me? We can hear you. Thank you. Mahalo chairs Kim and San Buura and members of the community. My name is Dana Moore. I'm a Kanaka Maui nurse raised on Maui and as the founder and leader of Hawaii Community Health, an organization dedicated to strengthening community health by bridging healthc care providers, researchers, educators, families, and leaders across Hawaii. I want to share that I we are in strong support of SB 2969. Our lived experience is that Maui fires of August 8th, 2023 were the deadliest in a century. What followed has been described by experts as the is the disaster after the disaster.
004The trauma did not end that day and the health impacts continue to emerge. Burnout among health care providers, mental health professionals, educators, and community helpers are real. I um wanted to say that Maui West from experience is not passive research. Every point of contact we've created matters and with partners we accomplish screenings and sample collection, but we also share in the real tears and um >> and smiles uh with our community. >> Sorry, your time is up. >> So, thank you very much. And we're going to ask um testifiers if you don't mind standing on your testimony committee. We really appreciate it. Uh we have Kobe Chop from testifying from the Alzheimer's Association of Hawaii. >> Chair, we stand on our written testimony just highlighting our amendment. >> Thank you very much. Uh we have
005Jack Leuen testifying for the state department of health. >> Chairs stand on our testimony. Thank you. >> Thank you. Jonathan Ching from Kaiser Permanente. Not here. Okay. Uh, we have Cibil Moran by Zoom. Civil, are you here? >> Yes, I'm here. Aloha, Mako. Oh, Cibibo Cooa. I'm here as a Maui West participant, a first responder who worked in the burn zone in Lahina, a community facilitator, and a resident of Lahina, asking for your help and supporting my community by allowing Maui West to continue giving their free health checkups because they are saving lives. I work with fire survivors every day, many who have found out they had diabetes, lung obstructions, anemia, hypertension, myself included. These invaluable checkups include heavy metal testing with lung function tests, blood work, and mental health screenings. Where else can you
006go and get all of that testing for free? And on the same day, meet with the physician and a mental health provider like Dr. or Dr. Bladesdale. Additionally, nursing students from Maui as well as Aahu get firstirhand experience working with our medically underserved community. I will conclude by saying this is a win-win for everyone and I'd like to say mahalo nurioa to the committee and the chairs for your time and consideration. >> Thank you very much. Uh Pedro Harlo. >> Aloha chairs. The American L Association stands in strong support of this bill. >> Thank you very much. Uh Amy Jackson on Zoom. >> Aloha. My name is Amy Jackson. I'm coming to you from the island of Maui. Um, I the Maui wildfire uh study literally saved my life. I barely escaped from Front Street
007with my life the day of the fires. A year later, I learned that my life was on the line again when I participated in the study for $100 cash to give my daughter her birthday present. I had difficulty with the breathing studies and my hemoglobin didn't even register on the equipment that day. Um, I was sent to the emergency room by the Maui Wildfire Study staff and was admitted for multiple blood transfusions and spent months in and out of the hospital at treatment. I was also um processed to get um help with my mental health because of the um study and the questionnaire that they asked. I didn't think that I needed medical treat uh treatment and as a single mom I was just out there taking care of uh myself and thinking that 50
008was kicking my butt. But going to participate in the wildfire study, I learned that uh my life was on the line and it literally saved my life. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Peggy Latari. >> Peggy. Hi. >> Hi. Good afternoon. I'm Dr. Peggy Latari. I'm a retired family physician and also a clinical adject and for the last 18 months >> if you're going to testify you need to come up here I sit down. >> Yes. >> Okay. Sorry. >> First time here. >> Welcome. >> Um yeah so uh 30 almost 40 years of healthcare experience as a family physician. I've been um volunteering for the last 18 months or so on Maui with the wildfire study. And the thing that I have noticed um several things but that um this the wildfires were
009devastating not just on mental health and physical health but spiritual health as well. Just last week u we sent two individuals to the emergency room with extremely high medical emergency high uh blood pressures that would never have been diagnosed if they hadn't come in that day. We're also detecting untreated diabetes, lung disease extreme. I saw a case of catatonia in a teenager that I have never seen before, not even in my training um in the early days after the wildfire. And luckily, we had on-site mental health providers there. So, the impacts of the wildfires did not end in 2023. They are ongoing and this study is really helping to provide care, not only to research the important things to follow as these um folks try to deal with the devastation. Mahal. >> Thank you very
010much. Uh Jordan reused on Zoom >> not present on Zoom. Chair. >> Okay. Thank you. We go to uh Ruben Joz. Sorry. Thank you. Stephanie Vill Vill Villa Lobos not here. Christopher Nightsbridge. >> [clears throat] >> Uh hello everybody. Um I'll try to make it quick because we got a minute, but my name is Dr. Christopher Nightsbridge. Um I have two roles. I work as a clinician at Lahina. I fly out every single week to work um 100% with fire survivors. I'm also the mental health team lead with our study. Um a couple questions you may have. So why do we need more money? Um basically we need more money to expand. Right now we have about 2,000 um participants. 200 of them are children. I want 2,000 children. I want um at least 800.
011If you give us this money, we can re we can definitely reach that. That's a very achievable goal. Um another thing I really want to emphasize is we hear the word study. We are not really a study. We do collect data and and research, but we do um arguably as much intervention and treatment as we do research and data. So, we don't just they come in and we find out something's wrong with something's wrong. We don't just say, "Okay, see you." We make sure they get all the help humanly possible. Um, you can ask me questions later if you want. Thank you. >> Thank you, Christopher. Uh, Martina Kamaka, not here. That's all that that I have that asks to that we're going to be testifying. Is there anyone else here in the room that
012would like to speak quickly? 30 seconds. >> Excuse me, chair. We have someone on Zoom that would like to participate. Okay. Well, let me take this one first and then we'll get to the Zoom. Go ahead. Please identify yourself. >> Aloha. Mahalo. My name is Sam Dutra. I'm a nurse and a faculty from the University of Hawaii. I'm here to share that this initiative also supports the workforce development. We also have training nursing students which supports them not only in develop our skill their skills but also in connecting with the community as well as with the community navigators that exist in the community. Thank you so much for your time and I would like just to reinforce that this initiative is a win-win all the way around. We have a workforce training. We have a
013service to the community as well as be able to develop the science and as well as better efforts to support everyone around. Thank you so much. >> Thank you very much. On Zoom, identify yourself, please. >> Aloha. This is Jordan with Lahina Strong. We'll be standing on written testimony today. Lahina Strong supports you guys passing SP 2969. Mahalo. >> Thank you for that. Anyone else wishing to testify? If not, members, we're open to questions. Any questions? Chair questions? No questions. Okay, we will move on to the next item on the agenda. Senate Bill 2657. This is relating to Alzheimer's disease related and related dementia research. Establishes the Alzheimer disease and related dementia research center of Hawaii within the University of Hawaii. Requires the research center to be administratively uh affiliated with the University of Hawaii
014John Burns School of Medicine. And testifying on this is University of Hawaii Kamal Masa Masaki. >> Good afternoon. >> I'm Dr. Masaki. I'm the chair of the department of geriatric medicine and I'm very happy to provide strong support for this bill on behalf of the John Aurn School of Medicine. I'm also available to answer any questions. Thank you. >> Thank you Colobby Chuck. Hello, Chair Kobe of the Alzheimer's Association stand on our testimony. >> Thank you, Kobe. Uh Jack Luen, >> morning chairs, vice chairs, members, we stand strong support based on our testimony as well. >> Thank you. Uh Calvin Har [clears throat] in addition to my testimony, I'm Calvin Har. Um like to emphasize that uh this is a great opportunity for state of Hawaii to have a research center locally uh with Hawaii's
015people involved whether from clinical trial to the research process. Uh this would be a breakthrough in in terms of research here. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay, that's all that I had signed up to testify in person. Anyone here wishing to testify on this measure, please? >> Oh yeah. Identify yourself if you will. >> Hi, my name is Hayden Cobb and as I've previously previously stated in my testimonies, um I'm an orphan because of this disease. I lost my dad to Alzheimer's and I lost my mom because she was a caregiver to this disease and it's it's taken everything from me. And I'm not the only one this disease has made an orphan. So, I ask you guys to be cognizant of those impacted by dementia while you consider the passing of
016this bill. And I would also like to reiterate the statistics of this disease in Hawaii. There's approximately 31,200 people that are 65 and older that have this disease currently and those numbers are going to increase as the years go on. So it's becoming a very detrimental disease to the Hawaii demographic. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate your testimony. Anyone else here wishing to testify on this measure? None. Any questions? members. >> Senator Kedani >> for >> university. Uh she was not here. >> I was on Zoom. >> Oh yeah, she was on Zoom. >> Yes. Kamal >> Masaki. >> Yes. Yes, I'm here. Thank you. >> Question for you, please. Go ahead, Senator. >> What's the projected timeline for bringing full staff staffing online and how will sustain? So what
017we've done is uh JABSUM provided a report based on a Senate resolution last year and we have a five-year phased plan to slowly increase the capacity and infrastructure for research and dementia in the state of Hawaii. This would hopefully culminate in us being very competitive to apply for an NIH designated Alzheimer's disease research center in the future. This current bill is for the first year of funding. >> And what happens if federal funding um is not secured? >> Yeah, that's a very good question. I think that even if it isn't secured, we would definitely increase the infrastructure in Hawaii and the ability to apply for other research grants. The ADRC designation by the National Institute on Aging is extremely competitive. At this point, if we apply, there's just no way we would be able to
018even be considered. I think if we built up this infrastructure, we would at least have a chance. And on the way to applying for the ABRC, we will be gradually bringing in more and more federal dollars. uh the first step is to recruit a senior neuroscientist who's an expert in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. That would be the person who would kickstart this whole effort and build a team. There are a lot of existing studies but none of them are coordinated. I think this this first step would at least get them started to be coordinated together. >> Thank you. uh what kind of funding we're talking about? >> I think for this first step, the funding we're asking for is for a senior neuroscientist and for a staff person. This would create a unit uh
019in the university. >> Yeah. How much? Oh. Um, >> 375 375,000. >> I don't have that number right in front of me, but >> Okay. Can you get that? >> Can you get that to us as it move this bill moves over to the money committees? >> Okay. And then you're saying that you would need funding um year for the next five years at least. >> That's right. >> Okay. Members, any other questions? Hearing none. Thank you very much. Okay. >> Thank you. >> We will go on to the next measure which is Senate Bill 2612 relating to medication administration in schools. Clarifies the Department of Education and its employees and agents shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability arising from assisting students with the administration of medication under circum circumstances. And we
020have Pedro Har from the lung association. Pedro Har with the American Lung Association set in strong support. >> Thank you. Kayashi from Department of Education. >> Thank you. Department of Health. Aloha chairs the department of health stand. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh Evan Owie for uh so Hawaii associ association for justice not here. Okay. Uh Joy Bulisan. Okay. Not here. Anyone else here wishing to testify on this measure? Hearing none members any questions? >> Question for DOE. Thank you. So I have two questions. Number one would be um how will DOE personnel be selected to um administer the meds and um how how will students currently needing medication um during the day be given the medication? >> Okay, thank you for the question, Senator. Um these uh this provision protects volunteers. So people would volunteer
021to do this. Currently we do have staff like the um school health attendant as well as nurses, but sometimes there's not enough personnel and we'd like our kids to be able to participate in all activities. So volunteers um can be trained to provide that daily medication if needed. >> So but every school will have someone. >> Yes. Hopefully. Thank you. Um um I don't know they're not here. Hawaii Association for Justice and Comments. You might just sit there. Uh, one of the things they said in here, and maybe you can opine on this, is that the department and its employees and agents who act in accordance with the requirements of this section shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability arising from these acts except where the person's conduct could constitute gross negligence, willful,
022and wanted misconduct or intentional misconduct. So that um I don't know if that's on the bill right now. It might not be. I think it is in there. >> Okay. and they >> and therefore at the very least school employees who render aid under this bill should also be immune unless their acts constitute gross negligence or want acts. Okay, just want to make sure. >> Yes, thank you. >> Okay, thank you. Um there is people outside that wanted to testify. Okay, next we're going to move on. No other questions. We're moving on. Thank you. We'll have bill 2412 uh relating to the University of Hawaii appropriates monies to establish a bachelor's degree program in sign language and interpret sign language interpretation at the University of Hawaii Mano campus with a multi-year plan to include a
023master's degree program for interpreting tra interpreter training and we have see Sabrina Wilford That's [laughter] >> okay. >> So, you can testify because we have somebody on Zoom who can interpret for you. So, please feel free. >> Daisy Chicken interpret >> from Hawaii Interpreting Services. I stand on my written testimony. >> Thank you very much. >> And thank you for your service. >> Okay. Uh Christine Pagano. >> Aloha. Good afternoon. So, Sabina, you need to to be on the microphone. >> Yeah. Can you just >> Can you turn the microphone around? >> Good afternoon. >> This is um from DECAP and we are we stand on our testimony. >> That's Pagano, right? >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Hello. >> Uh we have Jack Leuen. I don't think he needs an interpreter. >> Thank you.
024Uh, Jan Fried or Freed, sorry, not sure. >> Hello, Mike Kako. U chairs, vice chairs, members of the committee. Thank you so much for this opportunity. My name is Jan Frerieded. Thank you so much for correcting that. And um I am a professor of American Sign Language English interpreter education and have been doing that for over 30 years at KCC, Capilani Community College. and I'm an interpreter in private practice and nationally credentialed. And one thing I I stand by my testimony and I want to emphasize the importance of having a bachelor's degree in interpreter education. Um our national organization, professional organization that represents interpreters. Um we have an educational foundation is a bachelors is required. It can be a bachelors in anything. However, to make sure that we have the most qualified interpreters that can
025continue their education, having a bachelor's degree in interpreter education is fabulous. And of course, if we eventually have a master's degree program where people can continue their studies in interpreter education, that's even better. And if you have any questions about um interpreter education, the field of interpreting, please feel free to ask. Thank you. So, yes, you stay there. Sure. Question. >> Uh Hercules Gross Huan. Okay. That's the last person here to testify. So I wanted to ask you questions. I think I save you from going back to your seat. >> Please. A um and um I just wanted to let you all know that as a sign language interpreter, I'm speaking and signing at the same time. I come from three generations of deaf family and this is very important to my heart because my
026mother's side of the family is from here. But I had to leave island. I had to disconnect from Hawaii at 18. At 18, I had to let go because there was no pathway for me here academically to get an education related to interpreting or sign language access. So, I had to go to the states where I became a nationally certified interpreter just like my colleagues here. Um, so I studied and I stayed there for 10 years picking up the skills because Havi is lacking that and that's why we have brain drain from here. Now I'm back here at 29 trying to make this stuff happen. But we need this to happen so we can elevate local talent that understands the cultural competency here. No disrespect to the transplants, but here there is a knowledge here
027that we need to maintain and persevere or preserve. So, mahila. >> Thank you. >> Also, I'm available for questions and I'm in support of this bill. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Anyone else? Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? >> If not. Okay. Oh, one more. Okay. Can come forward. Okay. Um, >> aloha. Aloha senators. I'm Peter Arnatada. I'm dean of the college of arts, languages, and letters at Manoa. I'm here with my colleagues uh associate dean Andrew Perez Kroger and uh chair of the linguistics department Amy Schaefer. And this program and degree program would be located in our nationally recognized department of linguistics. And so I stand on my testimony submitted and I'm available to answer questions. >> Great. Thank you. Why don't you stay there? Can you appreciate Can you take the
028seat your seat for now? Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh quick question. Yes. So for either of you, um I I think this is this is absolutely a good program. Uh is it by any way going to be an obstacle for people who decide not to get a degree in becoming interpreter? >> So I think that that's something that needs to be worked out because at at currently at KCC um our our program which has been on hiatus, there had been some administrative and reapproval processes um issues. We are launching again in the fall. Um it's a it's a certificate program because it allows people who have a bachelor's degree to be able to study. However, I think with collaboration which is going to be critical for this particular program is that if
029we are working together and pull our resources and mono about this and eay we will definitely be able to launch this and I don't think it'll be a problem. I think we'll be able to have a pathway >> parallel pathway for those who already have their degree and would pursue um their studies in just in interpreting. >> Well, what about people who who don't want to get a degree and just want to be an interpreter? Is is this a barrier? No. That >> it should not be it should not be. It hasn't >> or they can be hired. >> It hasn't it hasn't been what's what's critical is having the actual credential. >> So, currently in Hawaii, people have two different pathways. They can either get the state credential through the disability communication access board
030through the Hawaii quality assurance screening um or they can go actually there's three pathways and they can also take a national credential through um Casley which is a center on assessment of sign language interpreters they can also pursue if they're going to be focusing their work on prek12 then they would take the educational interpreters performance assessment. So there's three different avenues all of which are accessible here in Hawaii. >> Okay. I just would say from a academic point of view at Monoa and we have the chair of the department of linguistics here, we have over 265 students taking American Sign Language courses and we have a waiting list of over 120 um who uh want to get into these courses. Uh and so we already have three instructors uh sign language instructors, >> American Sign
031Language Instructors. So we have the the foundation to build a interpreter degree program. Um, >> so here's a here's a question then. Why is why is it why do we have to have a bill? Why is the university just doing this without a bill? >> So it requires funding. I mean pure and simple small programs and it it is >> come in for funding at all the time but we've never had >> Sure. I mean decap bills not Monoa's bill. We're here just in in support of it. And I think just shortage of funding is right. I mean, we don't have the um >> well, there's what how much 240 million worth of >> $247 million of carryover. >> So, so chair, let me let me clarify something. >> I mean, actually, I think that's
032a fair question. But at the same time, you know, allocation of faculty positions is extraordinarily competitive uh in in in the university system and we often are not successful in seeking uh receiving positions that we request and so this is an extra lift um from an uh from a state agency uh and others in support of this. But I think the questions of I understand the nature of your question. So if I can also address that in another way. Um you can what's important to have the pool of of possible candidates who want to go into the interpretive education program. Not all sign language students are going to pursue interpreting nor do they have the facility to be able to do it. It's it's a unique field. Um and so we need to be able
033to have several pathways. So we've got American Sign Language at Honolulu Community College and and KCC. >> I don't mean to cut you off. We are really question. >> It's it's it's a matter of external funding and some of that external funding as we know has left. That's for the office of special education programs. >> I have a question. >> So is 140,000 sufficient to launch the program? >> It's a first step and we we I want to be honest about that. There's a five-year pathway. This would bring the first step would be getting a critical uh AP or staff position. uh and that is sufficient to hire salary and French for that position. But of course, we'd have to either other monies would have to be appropriated within the system already or we'd have
034to come back in the bianium to for additional resources to build out the program. That's correct. >> A faculty position >> because American Sign Language instructors are not interpreter education. >> So what is the sign language for help? >> I'm sorry. Help. What is the sign language for help? >> Help. The sign for help. >> Help. Yeah. And I really think all of our students should be taught that. >> Yeah. >> All students in DOE. >> Thank you. Really short question. And I understand why DAB introduced this bill because we have a super shortage. Yes, we do. >> Of sign language interpreters. And in fact, at my last town hall in the Big Island, we could not find a sign language interpreter. So, in the event that for some reason this bill dies, and I'm
035hoping it doesn't, how does the university, what is the university going to do to prioritize um making ensuring that we have sign language interpreter education so that we could fill the void of sign language interpreters? >> I would say in response to that, we have the chair of linguistics here. Uh we have um we have um and we can share these proposals with you. >> This measure is gonna go on through. >> We have on our own uh >> built three instructor positions in the department. Amy, do you want to come talk? >> So you will prioritize. >> No, you don't have time. No time. I'm sorry. We are really running. >> We just want to make sure. >> So we prioritize as much as we can with the money that we do have within
036the college. And I think that if we also continue collaborations that will also make that a reality much sooner is to make sure that the pressure system. Thank you so much for your time decision making. Thank you. >> That's it. up to you. Calling back to order the joint committee on education and committee on health and human services. We are in decision making. First item, Senate Bill 2969. Uh this is relating to the Maui wildfire exposure study. The recommendation is to blank out the any amounts is if it's in the bill and to uh pass with amendments. Any discussion members? >> None. >> Hearing none vice chair pass with amendments. >> Chair. Oh, chair votes I. >> Vice chair votes I. Senator Fukunaga excused. Senator Hashimoto. >> Hi. >> Senator Deort. >> Hi. >> Measures
037adopted. Madam Chair, >> thank you. Senate Bill 265. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. HHS me. >> HHS. [laughter] Same recommendation. All right. Vice chair for the vote. >> 2969. Recommendation Senate draft 1. Noting the presence of all members uh on the committee. Any WRs or no? Seeing none, recommendation adopted. >> Thank you. Sorry. I know this is your your Maui bill. Uh, Senate Bill 2657 relating to Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The recommendation is also to blank it blank out the amount because we're not sure what that is. Uh, and uh technical non-s substitive amendments for clarity and consistency. Uh, members, any discussion? >> No. >> Hearing none. Vice chair chair votes I. >> Chair votes I. Vice chair votes I. Senator Fukunaga excused. Senator Hashimoto. >> Hi, >> Senator Deort. >> Hi. >>
038Mas adopted. Madam Chair, >> thank you. >> For HHS, same recommendation. >> Okay. Re Oh, sorry. >> Go ahead. >> Recommendation 2657 is a Senate draft 1 noting the presence of all members of the committee. Any WRs or no? Seeing none, recommendation adopted. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh, Senate Bill 2612 relating to medication administration in schools. Recommendation is to pass as is. Any discussion? Hearing none. Senate bill 261. >> Chair votes I as is. >> Pass with >> as is. >> Pass un amended. >> Yes. >> Chair votes I. Vice chair votes eye. Senator Fukunaga excused. Senator Hashimoto. >> Hi. >> Senator Dort. Hi. >> Measures adopted. Madam chair. >> Thank you. >> Same recommendations for HHS vice chair for the vote. >> Okay. 2612 recommendation Senate draft 1 noting the presence of all members
039of the committee. NWRs or no? Seeing none recommendation is adopted. No. >> Okay. And finally for the last measure uh Senate Bill 2412 relating to the University of Hawaii appropriates money to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language. Recommendation is to pass with amendments technical and non-substantive amendments and to blank out the appropriation on page two. Hearing any discussion? Hearing none. Chair votes I. SD1. >> Senate bill 2412. Chair votes I. Vice chair votes I. Senator Fukunaga. Excuse. Senator Hashimoto. >> Hi. >> Senator Dort. >> Hi. >> Measures adopted. Madam chair. >> Thank you. >> Same with HHS. Same recommendation. >> Okay. Recommendation 2412 is Senate draft 1. Noring the presence of all members of the committee. Any WRs or no? Seeing none, recommendations adopted. >> Thank you everybody for your patience. We
040are adjourned. >> Okay. HHS committee. Um, please take a 1:00 hearing for HHS. Could everyone please um calm down to um to accommodate the death line task force? We are going to call out of order the death blind task force bills which are SB 2414 relating to disability and communications access board. First up, >> excuse me. First up for SB 2414 we have Jack Lewis for shipa in support. Next we have decaf Christine Pagano. >> I'll be right back. >> Okay. We we do still have a sign language interpreter. >> Yes. I'm sorry. She asked you. I'll be right back. Okay, please speak. Present. >> I stand on my testimony. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you so much, Christine. Okay. Next, we have Lewis Erric, Hawaii Disability Rights Center in support. Thank you. >>
041Elellanar McDonald, Debb Blind Task Force in support. Leela Mo in support. Um, Peter Fritz providing comments. Peter Fritz. No. Okay. Sher Shmeza in support. Heather McBy in support. Lara of Francy in support. Kayla Low in support. Beth King in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 2414. Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none, moving on to the next blind task force bill, SB 2848 relating to hearing aids. And I'd also like to note that um we do have more deafline task force bills in the joint session after but in case people want to leave early I want to accommodate them. So for first up for SB 2848 we have department of attorney general providing comments. Okay. Next we have attorney general >> attorney general. Are you present? >> I am present. Come on up. >>
042Good afternoon, Chair Janina Dwey, Deputy Attorney General. On behalf of the department, the department uh submitted testimony identifying concerns that the bill may run a file of the constitutional requirement that each bill uh shall embrace one subject will shall be expressed in its title. To remedy this issue, we recommend deleting the amendment on page four, line eight of the bill. >> Thank you very much. Next, we have, excuse me, >> um, Department of Taxation providing comments. >> Good afternoon, Clint Piper, Department of Taxation. We'll stand on our comments. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Next, we have um, Peter Fritz in support. Peter, are you present on Zoom? Uh yes, I am. >> Okay, please proceed. >> Uh first comment is I agree totally with the uh AG's comments. I think that that was a
043stray comment that came in from some sort of other template that LRB was using when they drafted it. So the uh the AG is correct. Um I stand on my testimony and will answer any particular questions and I thank you for the opportunity to testify. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Next we have Michael Galoya senior in support. Laya Mo in support. Sher Samuzu in support. Christine Pagano for DAB. And I understand your interpreter. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 2848? Members, any questions? Okay. So, we are going to go back to our regular schedule and that would be first up SB 2275 relating to persons with disabilities. First up, we have director Yammane providing comments. >> Hello. >> Yes. Hi. I'm not able to unmute my
044video or um start my video, but I'm Rajny Star representing the Department of Human Services. The department stands on its testimony and I'm happy to answer any questions. >> Thank you very much. Next we have Dainty Bartholus, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and support Barus, executive director for the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities. We are in support of this measure, but we're hopeful that um DHS with their state plan amendment where it has a full income disregard and asset disregard will come through where a Medicaid buying won't be needed. But right now we are in support of this as um in case that is needed. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next we have Christine Pagano again. Decap in support. >> Thank you very much. Lewis Urch Hawaii Disability Rights Center in
045support. >> Yes. Thank you. Good afternoon Senator. Uh members, uh Senator, I know you championed Cal's law because we I still got the pictures to prove it and I and and I know that you >> and that was I know you were very supportive and I think what's happened is that over time cow's law has worked very well. Uh and so you see more people with disabilities employed. At the same time, we we've also seen some limitations with it because it currently had is pegged to a cap of like 135% of the poverty level. So you have people making more who are now faced with a tough choice about career advancement versus Medicaid. So uh there is a bill moving on on repealing the the cap and Kyle's law. That would be good. The Medicaid
046buyin is here is also another option. So I think all these options the goal is competitive employment and and integration. So whatever moves is good I think at this point. >> Thank you very much. Next we have Hawaii Self- Advocacy Advisory Council in support. Janelle Fiesta in support. Janelle, are you present? >> I'm right here. >> Oh, terrific. >> Good afternoon, Chair Sam Brennova and committee members. My name is General Fiesta and I'm here in strong support of SB 2275. I know of a young man named Calbert. He lived with a rare neuromuscular condition called spinal muscular atrophy type 2. Because of his condition, he needed 24-hour care. This extensive care, only accessible through Medicaid, allowed him to live. I heard that Cal was brilliant and he had goals just like anybody else. >> His
047brother is right here, by the way. >> Yes, I know of him. He dreamed of becoming a professor and a writer, but Medicaid allegibility rules forced him to choose between meaningful employment or the life sustain life sustaining services he depended on. And no one should ever have to make that choice. Cal passed away in 2013 at the age of just 23. I never met Cal, but I live in the exact same condition that he had, and I face the same impossible dilemma. Every day I worry about losing my Medicaid uh if I continue to work and I can't build for my future. Uh just wanted to ask you to please support um Americ program. >> Thank you very much. Next we have um Iris Sha. Iris, are you present on Zoom? Please proceed. >> Um
048I have something to say about it and aloha chair, vice chair and committee members. My name is Iris. Thank you for letting me share testimony. I write in support of SB 2275. I live I am a self with >> Iris. Are you parked? >> No, she's passenger. >> Huh? >> Oh, are you a pass? Are you a passenger or or we cannot have you driving and testifying? Okay. >> Okay. I'm stopping right now. I'm stopping. Sorry, my [laughter] >> apologize. >> Yes, please. >> Yes, I understand. Okay. We cannot have an accident. So, >> Iris, I'm going to call somebody else. Okay. >> I'm going to call somebody else and after you park, okay, we'll get you back on. >> Okay. Yes. >> Okay. So, Laura Sopransky in support. Leilani Kai Leava in support. Okay.
049Iris, are you stopped? >> Not yet. >> Yeah. Show. >> Almost. Okay. No. No. No. We don't want an accident. Don't worry, we will get back to you. Anybody else wishing to testify in SB2275? Okay. Um, so are you are you finally parked? Iris, >> she's looking for parking. >> Okay. >> Are you driving OR ARE YOU DRIVING or if you're not driving then you can testify. >> I'm not driving. It's my CLS person. >> Okay. Good. [laughter] Good. Good. Okay. Iris. Okay. Iris. Then then please okay please proceed Iris. >> Okay thank you. >> Okay go ahead. >> Okay. Aloha chair, vice chair and committee members. I am in support of SP 2275 and I'm letting I'm sharing my testimony. I live in Aahu and I want I'm a self- advocate with self- advocacy
050advisory council. This bill is important to me because I feel the Medicaid buyin program is right now is not working and making money makes me feel uncertain and it feels unfair. I really would like to work a job so that I can be in more of a community and I can earn my own money without losing my Medicaid. As someone with disabilities, I often need more support to help me work. If I were to work, it would matter how much money I make. If the Medicaid buy in were passed, I would feel more secure and I also would feel like things would be better to for myself if I earn money to support myself and better positive and um perspective and how Iris my life. >> Okay, I appreciate it. Anybody else wishing to testify
051on SB 2275? Members, any questions? Seeing none, moving on. Next, we have SB 2390 relating to insurance. First up, Director Yammane. >> Thank you, Chair >> Ned Quest. >> Yes. Hi, this is Randy Star representing the Department of Human Services. The department stands on its testimony and I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. >> Thank you. Next we have State of Hawaii Insurance Division providing comments. >> Good afternoon. Testimony. >> Thank you. Jack Leuen, State Health Planning and Development Agency in support. >> Uh chair, members. Yes, we we support and stand on our testimony. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, we have John. I'm assuming either Kermitsu or Chang from Kaiser Perman Permanente. Are you present John on Zoom? not present on Zoom. Chair. >> Okay. Walden Hour, I just saw you walk
052in. HMSA providing comments. >> Chair, vice chair, um thank you for allowing us to come up and provide comments on this bill. Uh we appreciate the needs that the advocates have raised about access. Um we just would like to point out that while there was an auditor's report 25501, uh the bill that it referenced and the study that it referenced was for medically necessary biomarker testing. We would respectfully ask either to align with the study to allow for medically necessary or m mandate coverage for medically necessary biomarker testing or I would potentially have to go back to study. Thank you for the opportunity. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Next, American Lung Association in Hawaii um in support. >> Aloha chair committee members Pedro Har executive director of the American Lung Association. You have my
053written testimony. I just wanted to highlight that it's critical for Senate Bill 2390 to avoid the phrase medical necessity as that term often allows insurance companies to apply their own restrictive internal criteria to override providers clinical judgment by instead anchoring coverage to established clinical evidence and peer-reviewed standards of care. The bill ensures access to biomearket testing is determined by the latest the latest medical science rather than administrative gatekeeping. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Next we have American um Alzheimer's Association in support. Kobe, did you leave? Okay. Biotechnical Innovation Organization in support. Primo Castro, please proceed. >> Primo. >> Yes. >> Aloha, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. For the record, my name is Primo Castro with the Biotechnology Innovation Organization or Bio. We strongly support SB2390. Bio represents biotech innovators across
054the country, companies working to develop treatments that save and improve lives. A key part of this progress is biomarker testing which helps clinicians identify the right treatment for the right patient at the right time. Biomarkers guide precision medicine especially in cancer and rare diseases by showing which patients are most likely to benefit from targeted therapies when testing is delayed or not covered. Patients may may miss life-saving options. Unfortunately, a recent report found that the majority of states lack minimum coverage requirements for biomarker testing, leaving many patients without access. SB2390 ensures timely, equitable access to clinically supported biomarker testing ordered by qualified health professionals and updated alongside new scientific advances. Coverage policies should never stand between patients and the treatments they need. For these reasons, we respectfully urge your yes vote. Thank you very much. >>
055Thank you very much. Next, we have American Cancer Society Center Action Network in support. Cynthia Al. >> Cynthia Al ACS can strong support. Biomarker testing is increasingly essential in helping clinicians match patients with the right treatment at the right time for patients to access tests that are medically necessary to guide their treatment decisions. This legislation does not mandate unnecessary or unproven testing. The language limits coverage to circumstances where there is solid evidence-based support and where testing is recommended by rec recognized clinical guidelines. The auditor's report released last January showed that while many plans already cover portions of this testing, coverage remains inconsistent. This bill is needed to ensure equitable access across all health plans so a patients treatment options are not determined by the insurers. refer to Natalie Heman's story that is um she submitted
056testimony on it. Similar laws have been enacted in 22 other states. These laws like SB2390 apply across disease um areas, not just cancer, and they tie coverage to independent trusted sources of evidence so policies can keep in pace with scientific advances. >> Thank you very much. Okay, I see Kobe Chalk walked in for American um Alzheimer's Association of Hawaii. Please chair sonura and vice chair McKelby Kobe Chuck with the Alzheimer's Association in support. Um for Alzheimer's disease uh biomarkers are the only way to confirm a diagnosis to qualify for the newest treatments that slow down the progression of the disease. Um so we want to make sure that it's covered by insurance um because every time that someone misses a diagnosis or gets delayed um you miss that treatment window and it's just too late.
057So uh for those reasons we stand behind this bill. Thank you Senator. >> Thank you very much. Michael J. Fox Foundation, Jared Geruso Clock in support. I see you on Zoom. Please proceed. You have one minute. >> Hi, good afternoon. Thank you. My name is Jared Jeruso Cloak with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. MJFF is the world's largest nonprofit funer of uh Parkinson's research having invested over 2.5 billion globally to accept to accelerate better treatments and ultimately a cure. I stand on my uh written testimony and um just want to say very quickly that science is finally moving faster than the disease. We now have a biomarker tool that can detect Parkinson's, but without co coverage, there's a real bottleneck in being able to give everybody access to to better treatments. So, we we ask
058for your support. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next, we have Hawaii Association of Health Plans Rachel Wilkinson providing comments. Good afternoon, chair, vice chair, members of the committee. Rach Wilkinson on behalf of the Hawaii Association of Health Plans offering comments. Um you have our testimony before you. Just wanted to call out the fact that, you know, while we do believe that these tests offer significant benefits um in cancer treatment, uh because of the omission of medically necessary, um we do think that it this could lead to um coverage of tests that are not clinically justified and therefore cost will increase and that'll be passed on to the consumers. >> Thank you very much. Okay, next we have Ellanie Balanos of Oncology Nursing Society and support. Okay, nobody else having registered to testify. We have 16
059individuals all in support. National Comprehensive Cancer Network in support. Every Life Foundation for Rare Disease in support. Hawaii Lawyer Women Lawyers in support. ADBA Med in support. Zero Prostate Cancer in support. Global Colon Cancer Association in support. ICAN International Cancer Advocacy Network in support. Hawaii Rheumatology Society in support. American um neurological association in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 2390? Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none, moving on. Next, we have I believe SB 2540 relating to youth penalties. First up, judiciary in support. Next, we have McKenna Woodward, Office of Foreign Affairs in support. Aloha chair and vice chair McKenna Woodward on behalf of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in strong support of this measure. I want to quickly mahalo the community who's been working tirelessly on this bill especially Eolu Ananui and Debtfree
060Justice Hawaii and also to the judiciary for their support. This bill is really so important for our Kei and the Lahooi. If the state is truly sincere about moving toward a restorative rehabilitative model of corrections, this is a great way to move the needle on that. Youth penalties only serve to unfairly punish ohana who cannot afford to pay their way out of accountability. And that's really evidenced by a report from the judiciary a couple years back that found that actually only 17% of youth fees and fines are actually paid. Replacing this outdated practice as many other states have done with based community service allows youth to meaningfully participate in programs that strengthen connection to culture, place, and alahui. Mahalo Nuiioa for the opportunity to testify and I'm available for questions. >> Okay, thank you very
061much. Next we have um Venus Rosette Maderos Halakipa in support. Venus, are you present on Zoom? >> Not present on Zoom chair. >> Opportunity for youth action Hawaii. Kalista Ankog in support. Alicia, are you present? Kalista. Okay. Jamie Miller of Echolu mayoui in support. Jamie, are you present on Zoom? >> Yes, I am. >> Okay, please proceed. >> Mahalo chair for engaging with us on this issue. Um, and aloha to the vice chair and the members. We want to thank the community partners that have also shown their unrelenting support. And so we stand by our testimony, but I would just like to point something out that if for some reason this year this measure this measure is not adopted, legacy juvenile debt remains legally enforcable. That means license holds blocks employment collection referrals that damage
062credit, barriers to housing and military enlistment, and unresolved court obligations that follow young people well into adulthood for penalties the system rarely even recovers. This bill does not remove accountability. It replaces ineffective monetary punishment with community service and inabased culturally grounded alternatives that repair harm without destabilizing households or interfering with school and work futures. A mistake at 15 should not block opportunity at 25. Thank you so much. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Next, um we have Kianne Shiroa, individual in support. Okay. You're no longer ACLU. Okay, please proceed. >> Hello, chair, vice chair, committee members. Kerian Chiro, attorney. I'm testifying in strong support of this measure for a number of reasons. One, it follows best practices. Havi has made strides in implementing datadriven policies for reform in a juvenile justice system. We're actually being
063followed by other states. And so, we want to add to that by passing this measure. Second, it advances racial equity. We know that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth are more likely to be in the juvenile justice system and this would be cost inborn by their family. And for families that have wealth, their children rather rather than having their parents write a blank check for them, hold them accountable. That's truly restorative justice. Recognizing the harm and being accountable. This bill also advances restorative justice. Aloha. giving back to the community and learning these skills. And last, it just makes fiscal sense. You've heard from the judiciary. They're not relying upon this funds to operate and they are in strong support. So, thank you to the committee for hearing this measure. Please pass. >> Thank you very
064much. Next, we have office of the public defender in support. Darcia Forester. >> Aloha, Deputy Public Defender Darcia Forester. I'm here in my capacity as the supervisor of our juvenile division. We are in very strong support. As you know, this bill has been kicked around for a couple years and there's been a bunch of changes, but I believe that we believe that this version is the best version of the bill. Um, we I just really want to emphasize this bill has no impact on restitution. Restitution is different than fines and fees and court costs. And also we really appreciate the inclusion of ANA based opportunities for community service and expansion of community service opportunities for our kids who are going through the juvenile justice system. So thank you. I'm available for questions. >> Thank you
065very much. Um anybody else? No one else having registered. We have um ACL. >> Oh >> hello. Sorry. >> Identify yourself. >> Aloha chair and vice chair and committee members. My name is Zoe Martinez. I'm a youth council member of Na Oop VIII. I stand to support this bill SB2540. I acknowledge the written testimony submitted by myself and my fellow Naio Vivi members. I would like to thank you guys for this opportunity to testify. Mahalo. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Okay, we have ACLU of Havaii in support. Debt Free Justice. Havaii in support. Um Britney Kloa in support. Nico Z in support. Naomi Manuel in support. Isis Osborne in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB240? Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none, moving on. SB [clears throat] 3142 relating to dangerous intoxication. Director
066Yaman prov. >> Good afternoon, Chair. Trista Spear, deputy director for the Department of Human Services here on behalf of director of Yane. The department stands on its testimony in support of this measure and is available for any questions. >> Thank you. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and support, Tommy Johnson. Okay. Trisha Nakamatsu, Deputy AG in support. You're not Trisha. [laughter] >> No, I'm not. >> Okay, go ahead. >> Dave Day, special assistant to the Attorney General of the Department of the Attorney General stands in strong support of this measure. Um, want to connect one thing. Um, last year, um, this committee spearheaded a landmark piece of legislation, um, which was Act 219 of 2025, which updated and modernized Hawaii's civil mental health code and improved upon and introduced new pathways for people suffering from serious
067mental illness or substance abuse to receive treatment. This bill builds upon that work with respect to those who become dangerously intoxicated in public. People who are dangerously and acutely intoxicated in public pose risks not only to the people of Hawaii, but to themselves. This bill, which is inspired by a long-standing California law, will provide an additional pathway for law enforcement in the judicial system to get people who are dangerously intoxicated out of harm's way and on the road for better days. Available for questions. >> Thank you. And I see Director Tommy Johnson present in support. >> Yes, in support. >> Thank you very much. Next, we have Will Kane, uh, senior advisor, office of the governor in support. Um, Hawaii State Department of Health in support. We'll spend our best. >> Okay. Office of Wellness
068and Resilience in support. Trevor Abarzua Wiki Business Improvement District in support. Trevor, are you present on Zoom? >> Not present on Zoom. Chair >> IHS. I think it's more comments than in support, but it says here in support. Connie Mitchell. Um, Hawaii Psychological Association in support. Alex Lton. Alec Likton. JC Mulan I see I he was here for Queens providing comment that Dr. Ignasha Hawaii Medical Association in support uh Mike Goodman in support please proceed. I see you on Zoom. >> Thank you. Good afternoon senators. I'm an attorney and chair of the partners and care advocacy committee but I'm testifying as an individual because the membership hasn't voted on this bill yet. and I also serve as a guardian ad lightum for severely mentally ill subjects of assisted community treatment act cases most of whom
069are chronically homeless. I'm testing testifying in strong support of this bill and I also recommended a couple of minor textual amendments to help this bill withand constitutional challenges and make its application more practical which I explained in my written testimony and won't repeat here. However, there are problems with the civil and penal code that will make the real world application of this bill more difficult and were not mentioned in my testimony, written testimony, and which are addressed by SB2288. So, I encourage members of the committee to not only vote for this bill, but also to coordinate efforts with that bill, possibly even consider combining the two bills. Those problems include problems with >> Thank you very much, Mr. Goodman. Sorry. >> Okay. Next, we have um John Dudsman in support. David Fukuzawa in opposition. I
070see Director Lambert here for DLE in support. >> That's down on our >> testimony. Okay. Darcia Foster, Office of Public Defender in opposition. >> Aloha again. Thank you very much. So, um, our the Office of the Public Defender does oppose the bill. We have some constitutional concerns that we've outlined in our testimony, and so we're asking the committee to take a look at those constitutional concerns. Um, I'm not familiar with SB 2288, but I will take that back to my office and see if those if that bill addresses some of the concerns. Um, I'm not going to go into detail because of the time limits. Um I'm just pointing out that um we have very specific examples of what the concerns are. So thank you. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Next we have um
071Dr. Msovich, Premier Medical Group in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 3142? >> Come on in. Come on up. Um, thank you chair and vice chair and committee members. I stand by what my testimony was, but I want to add something that's very much breaking it from >> Could you please identify yourself? >> Okay. I'm Dr. Scott Mskovich and I'm president of Premier Medical Group, Calholi Health and other affiliate organizations. I'm working closely with um uh the governor and the governor's office on homelessness. I wanted to uh address something that has been highlighted in a few of the testimonies and bring some good news that everyone needs to understand. I just had a um Zoom call with the National Association of um respbit medical providers and we now have a 11:15 waiver for
072Medicaid that allows us to use healthcare dollars for taking care of the health care items for the uh these patients. And this would qualify. >> We've had that for a while. >> No. Yes, we have. But we're implementing we're implementing it for um January 1st for the housing and the respit services for homeless. And the bottom line is this would cover and qualify to be funded under that. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 3142? Members, any questions? I've got a bunch of questions. Department of Health, come on up. DLE, come on up. Not I'm sorry, not D. DCR. Um, this Tom Tommy Johnson. Okay. Well, you know, I see um Dr. Ch. Oh, come on up. >> Sorry, I'm sitting outside. There's no room here. >> I
073I understand. Um and and you can pipe up to Dr. Champion. But here's my concern. Okay, this may be my first term as health chair, but I've this is my fourth term as human services chair. Prior administration under director Bruce Anderson with they had a plan to reduce Hawaii state hospital population which right now according to myformational briefing is overcrowded. has been overcrowded for a long time. Queens Hospital's concern and IHS's concern needs to be taken into account because ever since Bruce Anderson left with um with his deputy who had a plan to reduce the overpopulation, Department of Health does not have a plan to reduce overpopulation. huge concern because way back then in 2015 2016 Queen I mean Queens is not here. Um but they at they said that if we pass this we're
074going to have the same problem with the emergency rooms that they had back in 2016 2017 until the CARES program started circulating and removing um I forgot his name now. He was a deputy director um with ADAD. >> Eddie Mercer. >> Eddie, that's right. Eddie Mercer until Eddie Mercer had the plan, right? Thank you, Louis Archer. Cuz he h his first plan was the CARES project which is working because I don't have hear complaints from Queens anymore about their emergency room being overcrowded. But with the supportive housing, I mean, Dr. Mskovich brought up the 11:15 and I know we've had that for a while remember four year fourth term human services chair so I know about 11:15 waivers and I know that ohana health plans I mean Rachel Wilkinson was here was using those 11:15
075waivers to provide supportive housing but they're not going to be around anymore so what is your plan if we pass this to reduce Hawaii State Hospital overpopulation to actually house these people other than putting them back in the emergency room. >> Go ahead. >> Um uh so we are working on a plan to decompress the why state hospital. There was an info briefing at which that was presented. Um uh >> no there was no plan. We you you just had a goal. I remember that info briefing. >> So, uh within that decompression plan, uh there were five core uh aspects that we were looking at. Um uh one was for those patients and the key is to get people in their most appropriate setting for their care. Uh so there are patients who would be
076more appropriate to be cared for in a long-term care setting. And thanks to the legislature and a bill passed last year, we're able now to discharge patients from the state hospital directly to a contracted long-term care facility. and we have already begun doing that. >> But that's for long-term care facility. That's for long-term care patients. >> But it frees up. >> It doesn't help those 704 patients that are still overcrowding his state hospital. >> Uh >> and that's the reason I have DCR [clears throat] here. >> So when we we look at the average length of stay uh and who's contributing to the census at any one time, uh these patients who who are chronically there uh that were able to place them in a more appropriate setting frees up. >> You know what? We
077don't really have time for this. Um, this is going to go to another committee and you're going to hear my recommendation that basically it's going to be tied to whether or not you folks actually do have a plan >> because Eddie Mercer's plan was shut down by the your your predecessors. Um, and I haven't heard a plan since then to reduce the overpopulation that is workable. Okay. All I heard was a goal. That's the reason I had the info briefing. But I am reluctant to put back the mentally ill back into the emergency rooms, which is what this will likely do. And even IHS is saying [music] that. Okay? And I want you guys to work together to come up with something. And I'm point to you because this it's a 704 um overpopulation at
078state hospital that's that's causing a lot of the overcrowding. But um any other questions? >> Super quick question. >> Okay. And why don't you call the TRS to come in? We can we can recess. >> Just super quick. Department of Health, do you guys contract to put uh patients like the one the chair described into any [clears throat] hospitals or um places on the mainland? Uh the there are patients uh with primarily acute psychiatric needs. Uh uh we previously had contracted with Kahim Mahala for 48 beds. uh when that um uh they stopped providing services to uh adults then that was added to 48 patients of the census at the state hospital. We do currently have a contract uh with one facility on the mainland um uh and uh uh some of the work with
079DCR and how they're contracting. We are looking for uh other uh opportunities. Um at this time we are not transferring any more people to the mainland. We have seven patients there currently. Uh but it is an option to look for additional facilities. >> And do you have oversight over these facilities or are we going to be facing or are facing the same issues before when we outsourced from prisons to these private companies that abuses and other things were happening which the state was then liable for? Is that situation occurring or has it occurred with these contracts? Uh so uh as part of our current contract there are provisions for oversight um uh regular um meetings uh uh there was on-site visit uh we would certainly look to see if that needed to be strengthened in
080any future contracts. Um so uh the point is well received with the responsibility for the state. >> I would like to see any complaints that have come from this and how they're being handled and what other things have come up with these contracts. >> Okay sir. >> Okay. Thank you chair. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Okay. And right um are you are you ready? Okay. We are going to recess the the last remaining bill for HHS. Um >> and are you ready? >> And we are we're going to call in the HHS TRS joint hearing. Um >> Senator, there's three bills, not just >> I understand. >> But I think I'm first, right? >> Yes. Oh, I meant in the HHS agenda. You said there is one more bill. >> Oh, sorry. >> It's okay.
081One, three. Hey, what the heck? [snorts] >> No, no, no. We called two out of order. >> So, we only have one left. >> Okay. Um, it Are you ready? Do I need to gavl out? We're We're >> We're doing a recess [laughter] recess on HHS. >> Yes. Let's gaval out chair and then I can count you in for the next uh >> Yes, please count us in. >> Okay, going live in 5 4 3 2 1. >> Calling the HHS TRS joint hearing. First up, we have SB 2936 um relating to parking for disabled persons. First up, we have Dainty Baragus, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities in support. Thank you, chair. >> Okay, next we have Christine Pagano, DAB in support. >> Okay, thank you. University of Hawaii providing comments. Okay, next we
082have um Lewis Urch, Hawaii Disability Rights Center in support. >> Yes, thank you. Uh members, the the ADA is is simply a flaw. So the ADA at the federal level says you have to have a minimum amount of parking spaces, but nothing in federal law precludes the state being more protective of people with disabilities. And so that that's basically what this bill does. I think everybody in the disability community laments the fact that we need more ADA handicap parking. So we think this is a good idea. Uh I understand there may be some feasibility issues especially for small businesses but fundamentally this is a good idea so we support it. >> Thank you. Next we have Retail Merchants of Hawaii um in opposition. Dave Erdman are you present? Retail Merchants. Next we have um Deb
083Blind Task Force. Elellanar McDonald in support. Lyn Morami Akatsuka in support. Annette Tashiro in support. Johnny May Perry in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 2936? Members, any questions? Okay, go ahead. >> Uh, I don't know who this would be for. I guess I'll pick on the DRC guys. Um, what's a parking lot? It's not defined in the bill anywhere. So, well, I guess nobody wants can answer that. Okay, thank you. >> Yeah, if you don't mind. Hello, chair. My name is Brian Mick. I'm with the Disability and Communication Access Board. Um, that was one of the issues I saw raised in the uh testimony. Um, and that might be something to consider actually. Um the ADA uses the term parking facility um to make a distinction um because that could encompass a
084parking lot or a parking garage um and I think importantly and I also noticed this in uh when you do have separate parking facilities on one piece of property those are to be looked at separately in scope. So, um there is a provision that allows you to move accessible spaces into one of the two. Um so, if you have a service slot in the garage and one of those actually has better accessibility to whatever is being serviced, you can move the spaces, but you do actually have to do the calculation separately from them. Um so, it might be a consideration though to um replace the word parking lot with parking facility um to make it align with the ADA's approach. Appreciate. >> Okay. Thanks, Jose. Okay. I stick around. >> [clears throat] >> I have
085a question. Okay. My question is this. This bill has specific number of spaces that need to be made available. Are there any metrics? I mean like how do we know how many spaces need to be made available? I mean do we have the number of disability passes being issued versus the population? Yeah, I can uh talk a little bit to the logic basically behind the formula. So um currently the that those brack what I call brackets so between like 1 and 25 total spaces. Um that's how a the ADA approaches it. You have a chart. >> So there's already an ADA. >> There's our chart and as Mr. said that's the minimum. Um this took that same thing basically and is looking to raise the minimums um in those same brackets. >> Here's the problem
086I have. Okay. Um I hear from the capuna people that they are not being given disability placards because even though they have an inability or they want to be able to access these places better. So if we increase the number of disabled spaces, these kuna who don't have the disability placards will have a more difficult time finding spaces. So what I want to know is what is the basis for increasing? >> Sure. So the [clears throat] basis is if you look at the current formula in the ADA um strangely enough it trends down the bigger a parking lot gets and surveys we've done over permites they report that that the basically the bigger a parking lot is the less likely it is that the accessible spaces will be that um so it starts about 4%
087in your your normal size lots but as you get up to 500 or more it goes all the way down to 2% of the total spaces is being accessible. We know our number of permites is close to 8% of the residents have a parking placard. So you have a real imbalance in those larger lots between the number of people who have a permit and the number of spaces. What the formula in this bill tries to do is tries to smooth it and make sure that it never falls below 4% in any particular parking lot and it keeps that consistent as the parking lots get bigger. So that was the approach. >> Okay. So there is a formula based I mean because it didn't say that in your testimony other than the Okay. Any other questions?
088>> Facility. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um, go ahead, Senator uh, Inoi who is lead on the other bills. Oh, excuse me. Anybody else wishing to testify or any questions on SB 2936? Seeing none, um, Senator Inoy. >> Thank Thank you, Chair. Uh we'll proceed with SB2850 and this is relating to parking with persons with disabilities and it provides that people who are blind or deaf are eligible to apply for and receive a disabled paid parking permit. The uh disability and community access board Christine Pagano >> or representative sorry about that. for me in opposition. >> Okay, thank you very much. Uh, next up, State Council of Development Disabilities who stand our testimony in opposition as well. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, testifying for the deaf and blind task force. We
089have communication uh from Lois Erdichek. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. And that's um in support. >> Is that in support or opposition? >> Support. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh let's see. There's four, five, six. Let's see. Four testimonies. Um and I will read these because two are on Zoom. in opposition. Marie Hutfold, James Gashel. >> James Gashel right here. I'll just stand on our written testimony for National Federation of Line of Hawaii. Just urging you not to pass this bill, but instead to have a working group with DAB to uh consider this and make recommendations for the legislature next year. >> Thank you, James, for being here. On Zoom, it KD kind >> not present on Zoom. Chair. Okay, thank you. And >> is also here. >> Thank you so much. I'm sorry. Did I
090miss you? >> Marie cut. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you so much. We did get your uh communications. Okay. Next, Virgil Stinette uh on Zoom. >> Also not available on Zoom. Chair. >> Thank you. It uh that's in opposition. We have two other persons in opposition. Annette Tashiro and Joel Ko not here in opposition. Uh Johnny May Perry in support. Opposition Rodney uh Gold and that's you're here as well. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh you're in opposition. >> Thank you so much. Sherry Shimizu in support. Laura Safransky in support. Is there anyone else wishes to speak to SB2850 hearing? >> This is Morice. I did submit testimony, but I don't know if you had it received it in time. >> No, that's okay. Um, are you here to testify? I will allow you to
091testify. >> Position just briefly. >> Oh, sure. >> Sure. Madam Chair, >> uh, can you come and Yeah. Can you manage to find a seat right here? >> Of course. >> Okay. and speak into the mic. And uh you prefer standing up. >> That's fine. >> Just move a little in the back here. >> You can sit down right here. >> Thank you so much for being here and having patience as well. >> The mic's right here. >> All right. Mahalo, Madam Chair, vice chair, and uh distinguished members. The While I appreciate the spirit and >> state your name, please. >> My name is Maurice Pereé, and I stand in opposition. I'm not I I appreciate the spirit and the uh intent of the bill. Um but what I I have to oppose because of
092the language because blindness and deafness is uh set up as a presumption of incapacity and diminish capacity. Uh I would not want to have anyone excluded from from this uh accommodation for people who actually need it. Um but for those of us who are blind or deafness in and of itself does not mean that we cannot walk more than 200 yards. So I just would also lend my support to any working group that would uh help to refine the language and change it so that it um uh could be considered on on a a more equitable basis. So >> mahalo. >> Thank you. Thank you so much for being here as well. Is there anyone else wishes to speak to SB285 >> chair? My name is Peter Fritz. >> I have a few I have
093a few comments. I'm on Zoom. >> Okay. State your name again, please. >> Okay. My name is Peter Fritz and I have some comments. Not taking a position either way. But when I read DAB testimony saying we don't want to do it because it's going to make parking harder. The issue isn't whether or not a parking is harder. The issue is whether or not there's a safety basis for doing this. And so as I look at this, the question is first um how much pressure will this be on? I've done some research and there's a small percentage of people that might be included to increase this um the capacity. And so that's something that needs to be taken into consideration. And the other part that's missing from anybody's testimony is approaching this problem from the
094issue of enforcement. How many times have you gone into a parking lot to watch somebody who can run around a block or run a marathon and then gets out and put the parking permit on? So there are a number of approaches to enter this and I appreciate the you for the opportunity to make these comments. >> Thank you Peter support. >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Um, is that Maurice? >> That's Peter F. >> Peter. Okay. Thank you for um your testimony as well. Appreciate it. Is there anyone else wishes to speak to SB 2850? Okay. Hearing none, let's proceed then with the next U measure and this is SB 2851 and this is relating to deaf individuals. It authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so
095that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle uh information. Okay. First up, Department of Consumer Customer Services uh since uh testifying with comments and this comes from the city and county. Uh, Hawaii Disability Rights Center. >> Yes, thank you. >> Good to see you, Lewis. >> Same here, Senator. Nice to see you. Uh, and members, I think we can all envision how a an encounter with a deaf individual and a police officer when the police officer doesn't know that that person is deaf, >> could could get pretty pretty bad, right? I mean, getting stopped and put, you know, get out of the car, put your hands up, whatever. and the driver has no idea what what the police officer is saying and the police officer doesn't know the driver's
096death. So, conceptually, this seems like a really good idea. Some way of at least whether it's this method or some method that would at least flag the issue so that so that it's obvious what the condition of [clears throat] the person is at the time of the encounter. So, we think this is a great idea. So, thank you. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Uh, Elanor McDonald, >> deaf and blind task force sends communication in support. Um, PL Fritz on Zoom. >> I'm back again. >> Yes, proceed. >> When I read about the bill, a bill in New Jersey that did exactly this. I brought it to the death time task force and they drafted a bill. And I'm in support of the bill with two amendments. First, that the original New Jersey bill set
097the decibel level at 41 dB. This bill sets it at 82. And for me, as a heart of hearing person in traffic, somebody comes up and wants to talk to me, I'm never going to be able to understand or completely be aware of what they said. So, I'm suggesting that the standards that were put forth in the uh New Jersey law be the standards that are used in this particular bill. Um, I may even be able to find some committee reports that would help this committee with the amendment. The second issue is I agree with the Department of Taxation referencing the income tax uh as a standard of proof. really isn't a standard of proof as I know from hearings that I've had when I was with the Department of Taxation about disability. I will
098wind it up very quickly. >> Your time is up. Uh we thank you for your uh contribution in your testimony. Thank you. Uh we have Lynn Akatsuka in support and the rest of all of these are in support. Uh Nikki Ko, Miley Po, Johnny May Perry, Sher Shimizu, and Laura Safransky. All in support. Is there anyone else? [music] Oh, yes. >> Did I miss you? >> No. Sorry. Sorry. This will be quick. Um Brian Mick on behalf of um this building communication access board and our acting executive director, Christine Pagano. Unfortunately, our legislative committee was scheduled to meet on Monday and this was going to be one of the bills they were going to review and take a position on, but first we had the council meeting. Um, so we don't have an official position,
099but we hope if this bill stays alive, we hope to have one at its next ter. >> Thank you. We don't have an official position right now, but um, >> but we'd like to see the bill. >> Yeah. >> Right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks for your comments as well. Is there anyone else wishes to speak to SP 2851? Okay, I'm seeing none. Hearing none, we'll move on SB 2521 and this is relating to emergency services and this exams emergency medical services personnel from commercial drivers license requires and it amends a definition of authorized emergency vehicle under state traffic code to replace ambulances with emergency medical services vehicles. and members, this is a uh city and county of Honolulu's uh measure and so we have before us today uh well we need we
100have testimony DOT or representative. Okay, that's in support department of health. >> We stand by over testimony. Okay, with comments. Uh, City County of Honolulu Deerd in support. Uh, UPW in support. And we do have uh, let's see, Johnny May Perry in support. And Ian Sante, City County EMS department on Zoom. It >> not present on Zoom. Chair. >> Okay. uh sends communication in support as well. U is there anyone else uh wishes to speak to SB2521? Members, any questions of this measure? Okay. If not, both committees on uh transportation and the health and human services committee. Uh shall we go into recess or you >> No, we're ready to go. >> You're ready to go. Okay. Uh the committees uh will not go into recess. Uh we will make decisions. >> Uh we need
101quorum. >> Quorum. Oh, we have we have >> quorum. >> Okay. So for SB 202, one second, please. >> Go ahead. Okay. >> Are you >> okay? >> Yes. So for SB 2936, chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. We're going to add exception of the public utilities like University of Hawaii that ma that manage large inventories of parking stalls. We're also going to add in a defective date um to basically ask advocates to provide the status of disability placards issued per county to reflect the parking spaces. So, so adding a defective. So, the amendments are adding the exception for parking areas like University of Hawaii public and um added defective date of January 30th, 2050. In the committee report, I am going to basically ask the advocates to provide us with statistics on the
102number of disability play cards per county and not just an overall. Okay? Because like I stated, there are many requests for use of parking spaces [music] that may not be specifically for the disabled. Okay. Any comments, questions, concern? Pass with amendments. Um, chair vai vice chair. >> Okay. Um, there he is. Yay. Noting the recommend noting the presence of all members of the committee. Any WRs? No. Seeing none, recommendations adopted. Okay. >> For the committee on transportation, chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments on SB 2936. Members on transportation. Any comments? Any any questions? Hearing none. Vice chair for the vote. Chair votes. >> Chair's recommendation is to pass SB 2936 with amendments. Chair and vice chair vote I. Senator Kuha. I, >> Senator Lee is excused. Senator Deort is excused. Madam Chair, your recommendations
103adopted. >> Okay. Thank you for the joint uh hearing on SB 2850 relating to parking for persons uh with disabilities. We understand uh there's some needs, there's some good with this measure, but because of the um opposition, I think there's some work we need to do. But I believe that hopefully um this measure uh is of uh great concern and we need to work on it as [music] well in the future. So chair's recommendation that we defer SB2850. Okay, we'll proceed with SB285. Oh, sorry. Um your recommendation uh committee on health, >> same recommendation to defer. >> Okay, thank you so much. SP 2851 relating to the deaf individuals. Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Um we'd like to as well amend the date um coming in the request from City County of Honolulu
104um to at least give some time to work on this. And so I'd like to move up the date on section on page three section four. will um we'll make the changes from its approval uh and move it up to January 1st, 2027. Ma'am, >> okay, >> thank you. Same recommendation. Oh, sorry. Go ahead with the vote. >> No problem. Uh as well, so for the committee on transportation on SB 2051 is to pass with amendments. Any reservations or comments otherwise? Uh comments from the committee. Um vice chair for the vote. >> Okay. Uh chair's recommendation is to pass SP 2851 I >> with amendments of the three members present. Any no votes or votes or reservations? Hearing none madam chair recommendations adopted. >> So HHS same recommendation vice chair for the vote. >> Okay
105noting the members all present. Um I do have concern about the tax issue was raised but vote for it anyway. Although all the members present any sorry I wanted to make uh a comment. So you guys talking about law enforcement not knowing about them being uh so when they register the car is in a way they can't put it on the registration so that um you know some people don't want placard saying that hey I I I get hot problem hearing or whatever. So but on the registration when HPD calls in the car they will get on one information saying that the person might have hearing issues. >> Okay. So Senator Fabella we are in the middle of voting right now. The question should have been asked earlier. Well, it's not a question. It's a
106comment. They say if you can put it into the nose, if you don't want to put it into the nose, that's fine. I didn't have anybody to ask the question to. There's nobody from city and county. I >> was nobody was here to ask questions. So, I just >> made it a friendly comment that if you want to do that because you want to put a placard, not everybody wants to have a placer that I'm deaf in a car. >> Yeah. >> So, that's what I'm saying. >> I think. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, any other comments, questions, concerns? Vice chair. >> Okay. Noting all pres members present any WRs or nos? Um seeing none recommendations adopted. >> Okay. Thank you. SP 2521 relating to emergency services. Chair's recommendation is to pass this
107measure with amendments. Noted the comments from uh Department of Health uh and that would be the recommended uh measure for amendments [music] uh as well. And this is number one referencing the exam from the lensure on uh 286-235.5 and number two on the uh emergency personnel and its role. Uh and that's it for the amendments as well. All of DO recommendations pass with amendments on SP 2521 on the committee on transportation. Any discussions hearing? None. Vice chair for the vote. Chair goes I. >> Chair's recommendations to pass SP 2521 with amendments noting the presence of Senator Deort of the four members present. Any no votes or voted reservations? Hearing none. Madam chair recommendations adopted. >> Thank you for HHS. Same recommen same recommendation. Vice chair for the vote. >> Okay. Recommendation 2521 Senate draft one
108noting all members present no see recommendations. >> Okay. With that we are adjourned. Recalling of a one other bill um for hearing SB 2340. Any members, anyone here willing to testify on SB 2340? >> Okay, members, any questions on SB 2340? We have Director Yammani providing comments. Hawaii State Department of Health in providing comments. Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities in support. Hawaii Disability Rights Center in support. >> Okay, real fast. Darus, Hawaii State 30 seconds. Yes, this bill um talk about CMS getting approval. You don't need Medicaid services in the home to live there. I just wanted to say that. So, we don't need CMS approval. >> Okay. The problem is simply on the neighbor island. There's a shortage of these homes. As you know from chairing this committee, there's lots of waiverss, lots
109of care homes, but sometimes on the neighbor island, what what you really have is a family that wants to take people in and help them. So, maybe they become an an adult residential home. Maybe they're a community care. All we're asking for is to not have a categorical exclusion. So, so this >> Nobody in opposition. Thank you, Louisis. No one in opposition. Okay. Dr. Lee and support. Kayla Lo in I mean providing comments. Aisha, >> are you present on Zoom? >> Iris >> not present on Zoom. Chair >> Leilani Kava in support. Anybody else wishing to testify SB 2340? Seeing none. So we are going to defer decision making for the entire calendar to 105 p.m. on Friday room 225 on February 13th. And with that we are ajourned.