Hawaii House Bill HCR38

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/10/22
• Report Pass: 3/30/22
• Refer: 3/30/22
• Report Pass: 4/7/22
• Engrossed: 4/7/22
• Refer: 4/12/22

Caption

Requesting The Auditor To Conduct A Performance Audit Of The Department Of Health, Hawaii State Hospital, And Hawaii Information Portal.

Impact

The audit sought through HCR38 aims to assess the procedures employed by both the Department of Health and the Hawaii State Hospital in connection with the Hawaii Information Portal. It is framed within a context where the Legislature has received various reports and complaints, particularly from the Office of the Ombudsman, indicating potential problems with the implementation of the new payroll system. The audit’s findings could lead to significant recommendations for improvements, enhancing efficiency and accountability within both health entities.

Summary

HCR38 is a House Concurrent Resolution that requests the state auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Hawaii Information Portal, the Department of Health, and the Hawaii State Hospital. Initiated in October 2016, the Hawaii Information Portal aimed to modernize the state's payroll system, concluding its transition in January 2019. The resolution acknowledges complications that arose during the rollout of this new system, which replaced a longstanding, fifty-year-old paper-based payroll system, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues.

Contention

While the resolution appears to be a procedural step towards ensuring accountability, it also underscores underlying governance challenges related to the management of state-operated health facilities. The potential for revealing systemic issues or procedural shortcomings could raise critical discussions on operational transparency and the efficacy of technological solutions in public sector institutions. If the audit uncovers substantial failings, it may prompt legislative action or reforms to enhance service delivery in state health programs.