Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Health to update its administrative rules to allow licensed dietitians to independently prescribe modified diets and plan therapeutic diets for patients. The bill aims to address the state's shortage of physicians by enabling dietitians to take on more responsibility for nutrition care, which is already permitted in many hospital settings under federal guidelines. Specifically, the proposed changes would let dietitians write diet orders without needing a physician's direct approval for certain diet types, while still requiring that these plans be reviewed and documented in medical records. This shift is intended to improve patient care efficiency and ensure that patients receive adequate nutritional support within the state's healthcare system.
Sponsored bills
Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on how certain other states approach the following subjects as they relate to condominiums: an ombudsman, licenses for management, alternative dispute resolution, governmental regulation, owner education, and owner access to documents. Extends the deadline for the final report and the cease date for the Condominium Property Regime Task Force to 6/30/2026. Makes appropriations. (CD1)
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests the University of Hawaii at Manoa to create a comprehensive plan for addressing housing shortages for students and faculty on campus. The bill specifically asks the university to develop a new business model that could include public-private partnerships to make housing financially sustainable and to redevelop the closed Hale Noelani facility to provide at least 1,500 beds. Additionally, the university is asked to propose a strategy for offering financial assistance to low-income residents and to submit a detailed report with financing options to the Legislature by early 2025.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to study how teacher salary increases affect pay compression, where experienced educators earn the same as less experienced ones. The study will examine current pay structures and analyze how step movements influence this issue to provide recommendations for improving teacher retention and satisfaction. The department is also asked to work with education leaders and submit a report with findings and potential policy changes to the Legislature by early 2025.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Department of Transportation to study whether other airlines could begin serving Molokai Airport. The bill is driven by concerns that the single current carrier offers expensive tickets and unreliable flights, which creates travel difficulties for residents needing to reach work, medical care, and family. If the study determines that adding more airlines is possible, the department must submit a report with its findings and any suggested laws to the Legislature by late 2024.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies, including the Department of Health and Department of Human Services, to work together to maintain affordable drug access for underserved communities through the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. The bill calls on pharmaceutical companies to avoid implementing restrictions that limit hospitals and health centers from distributing discounted medications to their patients. Additionally, it asks Hawaii's congressional delegation and federal agencies to monitor the pharmaceutical industry and take steps to protect the program's integrity. This measure is a formal request rather than a law that creates new mandates or penalties.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Medical Association and the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association to meet and create new guidelines for prescribing mental health medications. The proposal suggests that doctors should test a patient's thyroid function through a simple blood test before starting treatment with psychotropic drugs, as symptoms of thyroid issues can sometimes be mistaken for mental illness. This request aims to prevent unnecessary or potentially harmful medication by ensuring thyroid conditions are ruled out first. The resolution does not change current laws but instead urges medical organizations to develop these safety protocols.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the University of Hawaii at Manoa to create a comprehensive plan for addressing housing needs for students and faculty on campus. The bill asks the university to develop a strategy that includes redeveloping the closed Hale Noelani facility to provide at least 1,500 beds and establishing a new business model that could utilize public-private partnerships to ensure financial sustainability. Additionally, the resolution directs the university to propose a method for offering housing allowances to low-income residents and requires a report detailing these plans to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2025.
Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Health to update its administrative rules to allow licensed dietitians to independently prescribe modified and therapeutic diets. The proposal aims to address the state's shortage of physicians by enabling dietitians to write diet orders directly, a practice already permitted in hospital settings by federal guidelines. Under the suggested changes, dietitians would be authorized to plan and adjust nutrition plans for patients, reducing the need for doctors to manage these specific orders. The bill seeks to streamline patient care by letting qualified nutrition professionals handle dietary needs while ensuring all plans are documented in medical records.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's congressional delegation to introduce federal legislation that would expand the National Flood Insurance Program to cover damage caused by lava flows. The bill directly affects residents in lava zones on Hawaii Island who currently face limited insurance options and high premiums following the withdrawal of major private insurers from the market. By proposing this expansion, the resolution aims to provide a federal safety net for property owners in these specific areas, similar to how the program currently assists those in flood-prone regions. The measure does not create new insurance coverage itself but instead asks federal lawmakers to consider adding lava risk to the existing federal insurance framework.