Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services

Calling the 1pm calendar for the Committee on Health and Human Services. Present with me is my Vice Chair, Senator Aquino. This meeting is being streamed live on YouTube.

In the unlikely event that we have to abruptly end this hearing due to technical difficulties, the Committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business on Friday, January 31 at 1:34pm in this room. CR225 for those on Zoom, your audio will be muted and video disabled until shortly before it is your turn to testify.

Each testifier will have one minute to testify because I have a concurrent hearing downstairs, so we need to move this fast. If there is a technical glitch during your time to testify, we may have to move on to the next person due to time constraints.

And those who have been with me last session know I am strict with my one minute testimony. So I urge you to do written testimony because I do read written testimony. So I will be reading a list of individuals who submit written testimony for each measure. We apologize if the closed captioning does not accurately transcribe the names.

If you're interested in reviewing the written testimony, please go to Legislator's website. You will find a link on the status page for the measure. We appreciate your understanding and remind you that the Committee does have your testimony. That I reviewed them.

So I encourage you to use your time to either add additional comments or you can stand on your written testimony. Also present is Senator Fevella. Since we have quorum, we are going to move directly to decision making. We need to votes for the two measures that we deferred on Monday for decision making.

So for SB8 Chair's recommendation, this is the jury duty exemption for APRNs. Chair's recommendation is to pass this with amendments. We are going to allow a five year trial period to allow for the exemption of an actively practicing Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. We are going to delay implementation to January 1, 2027 to allow the judiciary to create jury forms.

And further we are going to add a defective date in case we need to change any further. And we also have Senator Hashimoto. So for SB8, Sheriff's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Any questions, comments? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Okay. Recommendation of the chairs to pass Senate Bill 8 with amendments. [Roll Call] Recommendation is adopted.

Chair okay, so SB189 regarding to breast cancer screening. Chair's recommendation is to pass this also with amendments. We are going to amend every reference from woman, the term woman to the term patient. We're going to amend on page 4, Section 2, subsection 4b, to any supplemental imaging deemed medically necessary by the patient's primary care provider.

We're going to further amend Section 3, page 9 of Section 432: 11-605 Sub 2, to include supplemental mammogram deemed medically necessary by patient's primary care provider. We're going to delete B1 on page 10, and for B2, we're going to change it to any supplemental imaging deemed medically necessary by the patient's primary medical provider.

And we're going to add a defective date. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Chair votes aye. Vice Chair votes aye. With the exception of Senator Keohokalole. Any reservations, any no's? Recommendation is adopted.

Chair okay, thank you very much. Now we're going to move on to the hearings. Okay, first up, SB46 relating to insurance. We have Gordon Ito providing comments. Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Dr. Jack Lewin, administrator for Shipta, in support. Dr. Lewin, are you prepared for SB46? You just came in.

Okay, you're supposed to come up here and not take a seat. You just got called. Okay, we have your written testimony. Would you like to just stand by it? Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Director Yamani providing comments. Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Alan Johnson for HSAC Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition in support.

Next we have John Kuromitsu, Kaiser Permanente, providing comments. Are you present on Zoom, John?

Not present on zoom. Chair.

Okay. Next we have Don Kurisu for HMSA providing comments. Okay, thank you. Next we have Michael Older in support. Brianna Zoe in support. Brina, come on up. Thank you.

And it's Brianna Zoe. Oh, excuse me. Brianna Zoe. All right, in one minute or less. Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the Committee for letting me come down here and testify. I just wanted to come and testify in support of this Bill. I am just, other than being a utilizer of health, mental health services, I'm no one. I don't work for a big company.

I'm just an ordinary schmuck who thinks we have a mental health crisis in this country. And a Bill such as this one to me is super common sense. And I have a lot of concerns with some of the testimony I've read in terms of insurance companies saying they already provide this sort of coverage.

If they're already doing it, what's the big deal? We should Definitely codify this into law to make sure this coverage keeps going into the future. And the 1.0 I wanted to mention about provider shortages, which I saw a number of individuals mention, this will exasperate a provider shortage.

True, we have a lot of provider shortages in the state in general. However, there is another Bill that's assigned to this Committee, Senate Bill 1552, which seeks to address mental health provider shortages. So I very much would like to see this Bill move forward.

I would like it not to be killed because insurance companies say, we already do this. We don't need a law. Like, I think this should be codified into law if we're doing the right things today. Great. I applaud everybody, but we should definitely pass this legislation, and that's about it. Thank you for letting me come down here. It's always exciting. Sorry, I'm a little bit of a train wreck.

Fine. Thank you very much. And you did well within one minute. Thank you very much. Anybody else wishing testify on SB46? Okay, moving on to SB642. First up, this is relating to mandatory coverage of standard fertility Preservation Services. First up, we have Gordon Ito, DCCA. Excuse me. Yeah. Insurance Commissioner, DCCA, providing comments. Thank you.

Next, we have the Auditor providing comments. Next, we have Jay Butai, DLIR in support. Director Butai. Okay. Now, next we have Medical Director of Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology and support. Next we have Adam Zarin, government, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in support. Are you present? Adam Zarin, please proceed. You have one minute.

Yeah, thank you. Chair, I think I submitted written testimony. I think just quickly, we'll say that fertility preservation is a common regret amongst blood cancer patients and cancer patients. And this legislation is similar to a bill that was introduced last session as well. So we really would urge your support and thank you for your consideration.

Otherwise, stand by my testimony.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Chandra Marsh, Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology and support alliance for Fertility Preservation. Joyce Renicke in support. Fertility Institute of Hawaii and support. Dr. Emily Goulet, Cynthia Au, American Cancer Society Action Network, in support. Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Sarah Lanford, Hawaii Society of Clinical Oncology and support.

We have Associate Caitlin Colbert, Fertile Institute of Hawaii and support. Don Cariso, hmsa, in support. Okay, thank you. Next we have Rachel Wilkinson, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, in support of. Next we have Terri Brown, Fertility Institute of Hawaii and support. Are you present, please?

Hi. Thank you. Thank you for letting me speak just briefly on this matter. I think it's you know, we can see there. Oh yes. Hi, I'm Terri Brown. I'm the Director of third party services at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii. I'm here in unwavering and strong support of SB642 as a fertility clinic who specializes in fertility preservation.

As one of many treatments that we offer. We see countless number of patients coming to our doors asking for this treatment. The main barrier to accessing this type of treatment and solution for overcoming infertility issues caused by diagnoses and treatments that may adversely affect your fertility is there is a huge barrier caused by financial constraints.

And you know, we strongly believe that financial access to financial help in terms of getting treatment covered by insurance companies should not be the limiting factor in order to receiving care that everyone, just as a human right, deserves to be able to bear children and have children of your own. If you do want to make that decision.

Thank you very much. We have a written testimony.

Thank you. Next we have Josh Fowler in support of Victoria Hamrick and support Rihanna Dewitt and support anybody else wishing to testify on SB642. Come on up.

Aloha. Chair and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide a written but also an in person testimony and support of this bill. My name is Sasha, here to advocate for others. This is a bill critical step moving forward in the right direction.

I received a very devastating diagnosis last year and in return, my oncologist encouraged me to explore options to seek fertility preservation before my treatment had started.

Last December, I was in the process of navigating a health care system where fertility preservation services are not covered by my current insurance provider, leaving me with painful choice of potentially foregoing fertility options or incurring substantial out of pocket costs. I only had a few hours to make some very challenging decisions to preserve my fertility.

And I remember asking the Biller of the fertility clinic how people are able to afford this and she simply responded maxing out other credit cards or taking out loans. If you are faced with a medical diagnosis, you're already facing a financial burden. Whether it's limited working hours, out of pocket, co pays and medications.

However, I made a decision to move forward.

Yeah, please.

Yes. I respectfully urge the Committee to pass this bill and I hope to voice this for others. Faced with this very difficult decision, the only request that I do make is to amend this bill to adjust the age to 39 years and younger.

I saw that. Thank you. So just to make sure you're Sasha Diamond.

Yes. Sasha Diamond.

Yes. Thank you. Okay, next up, anybody Else wish and testify in SB642. Members, any questions? Okay seeing none. Moving on. SB49 relating to terminal illness. First up, Department of Health providing comments. Next up, we have Jeremy Creekmore, President of HAPPN Association of Professional Nurses, in support. Jeremy, are you present?

Not present on ZOOM Chair?

Okay, anybody else wishing to testify on SB 49? Okay, seeing none. Moving on. SB 53, relating to SNAP. Expands eligibility for SNAP. First up, we have Director of Human Services providing comments.

Hi. We'd like to send the testimony.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Hawaii Primary Care Association in support, Erik Abe. Next we have Hawaiian Alliance for Progressive Action, Anne Frederick, in support. AARP in support.

Hi Chair. We sent our testimony in support.

Thank you. Democratic Party of Hawaii, Bronson Silva in support. Hawaii Food Industry Association, Lauren Zirbel in support. Lauren, are you present?

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

Okay, thank you. Next, AUW, Younghee Overly in support. Michael Robbins in Hawaii Pacific Health, in support. HSAC, Alan Johnson in support. Hawaii Farmers Union, Hunter Heaivilin in support. Hunter? No. Okay, moving on. University of Hawaii System in support. Hawaii Food Bank and Amy Miller in support.

Hi Chair. I'm from Hawaii Food Bank in support.

Okay, thank you. We didn't see that you registered to be in person. Sorry. So I went fast. Okay, next we have Daniela Spoto, Hawaii Apple Seed, in support. Okay, thank you very much. Suzanne Skjold of Aloha United Way in support. Early Action--Childhood Action Strategy in support. Hawaii Public Health Institute, Nate Hicks in support.

Thank you. Nate Hicks, Hawaii Public Health Institute, in support. Aloha Chair, Vice Chair. Right now, families who are receiving SNAP benefits are in a no-win situation. They either stay in poverty and rely on SNAP benefits or if they try to earn their way out of poverty, they lose maybe 5, $10,000 annually in SNAP benefits.

We need to provide a bridge to them to get out of poverty. Right now they're at this huge benefits cliff that is hugely detrimental to our society. So that's why we support this bill. Mahalo.

Okay, thank you very much. Okay, next we have AlohaCare, Sarielyn Curtis in support, and next, we have 11 other people, individuals, all in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 53: expanding SNAP benefits to 300% and less? Okay. Members, any questions? Seeing none. Moving on. Next is SB 58 relating to public assistance.

Okay, first we have director of Human Services providing comments. Okay, thank you very much. No one else having registered to testify. Anybody else wishing to testify for SB 58? Okay, seeing none. Moving on. Next we have SB 960, relating to SNAP, again. First up, we have director of Human Services. Providing comments.

Next we have Eric Abe of Hawaii Primary Care Association and support Next we have Hawaii alliance for Progressive Action and support. Green Party Hawaii and support Lauren Zirbel, Hawaii Food Industry Association. Are you present, Lauren?

Not present. On ZOOM Chair.

Okay, Next we have AUW and support. Strata Farms llc. Ian Kennedy in support. HSAC Alan Johnson support Hawaii Farmers Union. Hunter Heathland in support. Not present. Next, Hawaii Food bank support. Thank you very much. Hawaii Apple Seed and support. Thank you. Betty Lou Larson, Catholic Charities in Hawaii in support Hawaii Public Health Institute. Nate Hicks in support.

Aloha Chair. Vice Chair, Nate Hicks, Hawaii Public Health Institute and support. This is an emergency situation. People are having an extremely difficult time accessing SNAP benefits. The demand for SNAP is through the roof and our staffing levels have stayed stagnant.

The Department of Human Services is doing the best they can to make sure they can process these applications, but the demand is just overwhelming. People are unable to get the interview that they need at their scheduled time. They're calling on time, but people are not there to answer the phones.

People are waiting in line before the doors open and they are told they're not going to be able to get help before the day closes, and so they leave immediately. We need to make sure that we increase the staff substantially because right now they're just understaffed and cannot handle.

Providing them funds would be hugely helpful and make sure that we can make sure people can access the federal SNAP benefits that they need and deserve. Mahalo.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Aloha Care and support. Aloha United Way and support. Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Sustainable Commerce and support. Hawaii Hunger Action Network and support. And 28 other individuals, all in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB960? Seeing no Members. Any questions? Seeing none moving on.

Thank you very much for being very efficient. SB 961, relating to SNAP. First up, Director Yamane. And providing comments. Thank you. Next we have Erik Abe, also in support, Hawaii Primary Care Association. Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action in support, Green Party in support. AARPW in support. Yes? AARP. Sorry, I got confused. The next one is AAUW in support. Okay, thank you. Hawaii Food Industry Association. Lauren Zirbel, are you present?

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

Okay, thank you. Democratic Party of Hawaii in support. Straddle Farms LLC in support. HSAC, Alan Johnson in support. Food Bank in support. Thank you very much. Hawaii Farmers Union in support. Hawaiʻi Appleseed in support. Thank you. Nate Hix, Hawaii Public Health Institute, in support.

Aloha. Nate Hix, Hawaii Public Health Institute. Chair, Vice Chair. Right now we are forcing our, specifically our kupuna members to apply for benefits every year, reapply again and again. Their situations aren't changing. Fortunately, the feds allow them to only have to apply once every three years.

That's a choice we can just make to make the process much more streamlined for these applicants and for the Department of Human Services. That means less applications they have to reapply with, and so that would free up a lot of staff to streamline the application for everybody. I think this is a no brainer to make sure that we're making the process as easy as possible. Mahalo.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have AlohaCare in support. Chamber of Sustainable Commerce in support. Hawaii Hunger Action Network in support. Catholic Charities Hawaii in support. 27 other individuals, all in support. Anybody else wishing to testify in SB 961, relating to SNAP. Seeing none. Members, any questions? I have a question.

DHS, you're the one standing up. Thank you. Oh, Scott is going to show up. Yeah. Why don't you come on up. Well, you heard Nate Hix. People are having problems with you guys' software and in the prior bill. How's you guys modernization? I saw the reports that came in from it's... There's constant delays.

So first of all, good afternoon, Chair and Vice Chair. Scott Morishige, division administrator for the Benefit, Employment, and Support Services Division of DHS on behalf of Director Yamane.

Ginet Hayes, I'm the SNAP program administrator.

Yeah. So how's your modernization of your IT so people can get on?

So we went into user acceptance testing for the system last fall, and then in user acceptance testing there are a number of changes that were identified that we needed to make to the system for it to really be able to effectively address the needs of the clients we serve and also our staff. So we worked together with our vendor. We had to make some adjustments to schedule. We just relaunched and had a kickoff last week to move forward with the new schedule. Our current date for statewide implementation is fall of 2026. We...

Next year. Because I thought the last time I heard it was supposed to be earlier in 2026. It got delayed again.

Correct. This is a very complex system in terms of eligibility with many different pieces and we want to make sure that we get the system right so that we are able to address the challenges that Mr. Hix identified and really be able to increase our overall efficiency.

I did want to note regarding this bill, our current legacy system Hawaii, which as you know is almost 40 years old, is not able to extend automatically extend the certification period beyond 12 months. So for us to implement it now would require a manual process, which would add even further work for and potential delays for the clients.

We do have in our executive budget requests, a request to support the continued development of BES. And we believe with BES moving forward, it will increase the efficiency of the workload for our staff, and the new BS system we anticipate would be able to support the extended certification period.

Okay. October 2026. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay, seeing none. Moving on. SB963 again, relaying to SNAP. First up, Director Yamani. You're not Director Yamane, but go ahead. Variety comments. Okay. HAPPA Hawaii alliance for Progressive Action and support. Lawrence Herbal, are you present? Hawaii Food Industry.

Not present on zoom. Chair.

Also in support AUW and support. HSAC Alan Johnson support. Hawaii Food bank and support. Okay. Hawaii Farmers Union and support. Okay. I thought they were here. Okay. Hawaii Apple Seed and support. Thank you. Aloha Care and support. Aloha United Way and support Catholic Charities and support. And we have six other individuals in support.

Jordan Smith, are you present?

Yes, I am. Can you hear me?

Yes. Please identify yourself and please proceed.

Thank you. Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. My name is Jordan Smith. I'm a volunteer at Keela Mamo's prison reentry program. I stand outside of Halawa Correctional Facility one day a week with backpacks full of essentials and snacks for folks being released.

And on average, the folks we're serving have been inside for five or 10 years. They describe the food as inedible, disgusting and bland. And so we know we're welcoming folks back out into the community that may have not had a healthy, nutritious, balanced meal and have a decade or longer.

So we really hope you can pass this bill, join 13 other states that are offering pre release waivers and increase immediate food access for this population. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Okay, anybody else wishing testifying SB963, come on up. Nathan.

Aloha. Nate Hicks, Hawaii Public Health Institute. I apologize for my late testimony, but I just want to talk about. These are again, choices that the state can choose to make to make SNAP more accessible and increase the benefit amounts.

And so I think these are common sense to make sure that all of the people who are eligible have the most streamlined, easily accessible access to our SNAP benefits. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB963? Okay. Seeing on moving zero Members. Any questions? Nope. Singheon moving on SB798, relating to child welfare. First up, we have Office of the Auditor providing comments. Next, we have Deputy AG Providing comments.

Thank you, Chair and Vice Chair for the ability to provide comments. My name is Lynn Yeomans. I'm a Deputy Attorney General. We have our written testimony and I'm available for questions.

Okay, thank you very much. Next, we have Office of Wellness and Resilience. I saw Tia Hartsock coming in and support.

Yeah, I will stand on our testimony support.

Okay, thank you very much. Next, we have DHS providing comments. A different one. Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Hawaii Family Advocacy Group. Joshua Franklin in support. Next, we have Hawaii Coalition for Child Protective Reform. Nonohe Botelo in support. Noreen Koh, Hawaii Children's Action Network speaks in support. Marilyn Yamamoto in support.

On zoom, I see Moana Keala. Catherine Tuamuna, is that you?

Moani Aloha. Okay, please proceed. My name is Moani Keala. Catherine Tuamana. I am just wanting to make comment. I did provide a written testimony. I don't think that the Bill, written as it is, will reduce child harm or death because the people at the table do not include those that have been harmed by the system.

And when I say those that have been harmed, I mean like Peter Boy, Kima's siblings, Fabian Garrett Garcia's siblings, Ariel Seller's siblings. We have a very separate and unequal system of investigating abuse when it is a foster child that has been abused. I included that in my written testimony about sexual assault. Forensic examinations happening in Hawaii County.

Off the record. Thank you for letting me testify.

Thank you very much. Next we have Lori Tachiki, Malama Ohana Working Group in support. Come on in. Come on up.

Just really quickly. I am testifying as an individual citizen because, as you know, the Kuleana of the working group was to make the recommendations, which we have. And we know the recommendations are complex. There's a lot here because we did listen deeply to the voices of the community and those with lived experience.

What we need really, at this point in time is implementation and accountability. And so my comments on the record go to the need for Independence. And there's also another Bill that you've put forth that would maybe be more of an independent vehicle. So thank you for your support and just our. Our efforts.

We really appreciate that support and look forward to next steps.

Okay, thank you very much. Okay, next we have Karen Worthington in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB798? Okay, Members, any questions? Okay, we're going to recess and hope to get quorum for decision making. I apologize. There is one more Bill, and that is SB974 relating to foster care. First up, we have Director Yamane providing comments.

Okay. Next we have Marilyn Yamamoto in support. Anybody else Wishing testify on SB974 Members? Any questions? Okay, we need to recess and call people in for quorum.

Thank you. Recess.

Recalling the 1pm Calendar of the Health and Human Services for decision making. First up, SB46. This bill basically requires a sunrise analysis and the passage of a Concurrent Resolution because it's an added benefit. As such, until that occurs, we are going to defer indefinitely.

Want to make sure for the proponents that the chair and the Committee take the need for mental exam seriously. And that's the reason why we heard the Bill. However, according to the rules, sunrise analysis is required. So we are deferring indefinitely pending the passage of the resolution. Next up, SB642 relating to insurance.

Sheriff's recommendation is to pass this with amendments. We are going to delete from. Line from. All right. We're going to delete the phrase and individuals under 26 years of age covered under the policy. Okay. And insert right before coverage the word optional.

And the reason for this is one, we believe that it needs to be for individuals above the age of 26.

Second, the audit did not state the financial impact on the health care that such standard fertility preservation service is going to take because they did not get the information from hmsa, not from Kaiser, not from uha, all the insurance companies who are required to let us know how much it's gonna cost us.

And for those reasons, despite that, despite the. Despite what I consider the need for this, we're gonna pass this as an optional coverage, but we're gonna require the insurance companies to provide the optional coverage. Any comments, questions, concerns, and add a defective date. Any comments, questions or concerns, Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote. Chair votes I.

Okay. Voting on Senate Bill 642. Recommendation is passed with amendments. Chair votes aye. Vice Chair votes aye. Senator Hashimoto. Hi. Senator Keokole. Aye. Senator Favela.

Aye.

Recognition is adopted.

Chair okay for SB 49. Chair is going to pass that with amendments. We're going to take the Department of Health and Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses proposed amendments, add in amendments for technical and non substantive amendments for SMA needed for clarity and consistency. And we're going to add in also defective date. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none.

Vice Chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Okay, thank you very much. Passing with amendments. All Members are present. Any reservations? Any no recommendation is adopted.

Chair so for SB53, Chair's recommendation is to defer this indefinitely because as the as shown by the testimony, we're unable to determine the amount. The federal Executive orders the past due dates to halt grants and the software glitch has shown that this year is not the year to expand SNAP benefits. We're going to wait till next year.

My concern is by expanding coverage, the ones who are eligible will be given smaller benefits to pay for the rest of the expanded people. So this is not the year next year. The Committee does see the need for expanded SNAP and that's the reason why we're hearing it. Okay, so for the advocates, let's try again next year.

Yesterday scared me. I'm just going to let you folks know that it really scared me. So moving on, SB58 Chair's recommendation is to pass this with amendments.

We're going to add a paragraph to allow DHS to access the major disaster Fund up to a blank amount during the period of a Governor declared State of emergency with such amount being reimbursed with any federal funds as appropriate and or General Fund appropriation.

And next legislative session we're going to add tech amendments and a defective date in the Committee report. We're going to ask the DHS to inform the next Committee as to the highest amount requested by DHS during a government declared State of emergency so that we have an amount to fill in for the blank amount.

Any comments, questions or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote passed with amendments.

A Senate Bill 58 passing with amendments. All Members are present. Any reservations? Any NOS recognition is adopted.

Chair okay for SB960 we're going to pass this with amendments. We're going to put in a delayed effective date of two years.

I was hoping one, but this modernization keeps getting delayed and I'm hoping you folks DHS will get their act together to fill in the current vacancies before we ask them to recruit for more positions because they can't even fulfill the ones they already have.

So I see the need for it, but it doesn't make sense to tell them to recruit for more positions when they can't even fulfill the positions they've got. So for those reasons we're going to pass with the pass with amendments. Any comments, questions or concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote. Chair votes aye.

Thank you very much. Senate Bill 960 passed with amendments. All Members are present. Any reservations? Any notes? Recommendation is adopted. Chair.

Okay, same thing with SB960. The modernization is taking too long.

I'm Sorry, excuse me.

SB961. Sorry. SB961. Thank you. Thank you for corrections relating to SNAP benefits. The modernization is taking too long and I'm concerned that by adjusting certification periods now, it's going to even delay the benefits. So for that reason, we're going to be passing this with amendments. Delayed implementation date of two years.

Hopefully they can get their act together by then. Any comments, questions, concerns? Pass with amendments.

Thank you, chair. Senate Bill 961, recommendation is to pass with amendments. All Members are present. Any reservations? Any NOS recommendation is adopted.

Chair thank you for SB960. Chair's recommendation is to pass this with amendments. We're going to accept the DHS proposed amendment removing the treatment requirement because we believe the current pre lease and work furlough requirements already make the treatment requirement unnecessary and we're going to add in a defective date. Any comments, questions or concerns? Seeing none.

Vice Chair for the vote.

Thank you, Chair. Senate Bill 963, recommendation is to pass Fifth Amendment. All Members are present. Any reservations? Any NOS recommendation is adopted. Chair okay.

For SB978, Laurie Tachiti is correct. I have a concurrent Bill because we do believe that a we do believe that CWS needs help and it needs to come from an independent source, but we don't believe, based upon what the Attorney General has stated, that this is the right vehicle at this time.

So we're going to defer this indefinitely. And because there is another Bill coming out. Any comments, questions, concerns? Okay, moving on. SB974. We already passed this Bill apparently in a couple sessions ago, so it's unnecessary. We're going to defer SB974 indefinitely. Okay. And then with that, we are adjourned and thank you very.