HI SCR127

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

Urges the Department of Health to hire additional members from Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities who have been responding to the pandemic since March 2020.

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

Recognizes that Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders made up approximately 21 percent of Hawaii's population but accounted for over 50 percent of COVID-19 cases in 2020 and approximately 30 percent in 2021-2022.

Aims to address health inequities and improve access to culturally relevant health programs for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities through culturally appropriate engagement and diverse hiring practices.