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HI HR83

Resolution

Status

Introduced

3/11/2022

Primary Sponsor

Stacelynn Eli

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Origin

House of Representatives

2022 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Urges the Department of Health to employ Team 6B contact tracing team members as permanent staff, a group created in October 2020 to provide culturally appropriate outreach to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

  • Requests the Department of Health continue hiring members from Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to address health inequities and create better access to culturally relevant programs for these underserved populations.

  • Directs the Department of Health to create a diverse hiring plan and submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2023 Regular Session.

  • Notes that Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders comprised 21% of Hawaii's population but accounted for over 50% of COVID-19 cases in 2020 and approximately 30% in 2021-2022.

  • Acknowledges Team 6B's success in providing culturally appropriate education, testing and vaccination services in communities' primary languages, which led to decreased case numbers in these populations.

Legislative Description

Urging The Department Of Health To Employ The Team 6b Contact Tracing Team As Permanent Staff And Hire Other Members From The Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islander Communities In An Effort To Address The Health Inequities That Exist And Create Better Access To Culturally Relevant Programs For Native Hawaiians And Pacific Islanders.

DOH

Last Action

Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Eli, Hashem, D. Kobayashi, Ohno excused (4).

3/31/2022

Committee Referrals

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs3/31/2022
Health, Human Services, & Homelessness3/14/2022

Full Bill Text

No bill text available