Bill > SB1292

This bill proposes a comprehensive restructuring of Hawaii's state government departments, focusing on reorganizing health, environmental, and social service functions. The bill establishes a new Department of Environmental Protection, renames the Department of Health to the Department of Community Health, and renames the Department of Human Services to the Department of Healthcare Services. It transfers various responsibilities between these departments, creating more specialized and focused agencies. Key provisions include creating distinct divisions within the new Department of Environmental Protection (such as an environmental health service division and an environmental management division), administratively attaching the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to the Department of Healthcare Services, and ensuring that transferred employees retain their civil service status, benefits, and prior service credits. The bill aims to improve administrative efficiency by consolidating and redistributing governmental functions, with a particular emphasis on environmental management, public health, and healthcare services. The changes are intended to be implemented gradually, with a transfer completion date no later than December 31, 2026, and will require subsequent amendments to various state statutes to fully implement the departmental reorganization.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1292&year=2026