RELATING TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE.

Budget Healthcare

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: TAKAYAMA, AMATO, BELATTI, CHUN, GRANDINETTI, ILAGAN, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, MATAYOSHI, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, TARNAS, WOODSON
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how the air transport assistance fund will be used or managed.

Improving Access to Movement Disorder Care

This bill establishes a committee to study ways to improve access to movement disorder care for residents of neighbor islands in Hawaii, including the feasibility of an air transport assistance fund.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee within the Department of Health to examine recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents.
The committee will study the number of patients and their travel needs, current costs for interisland air travel, potential funding models, administrative mechanisms, and opportunities for collaboration with airlines and healthcare providers.
Requires the committee to submit a report with findings and recommendations by December 30, 2026.
Appropriates $100,000 from state funds to support the committee's work.

Who It Names or Affects

Residents of neighbor islands in Hawaii who need movement disorder care.
Healthcare providers and airlines involved with interisland travel for medical purposes.

Terms To Know

Movement Disorder: A condition that affects the way a person moves, such as Parkinson's disease.
Interisland Travel: Travel between different islands within Hawaii.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the air transport assistance fund will be used or managed.
It is unclear if and when the recommendations from the committee will become law.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a temporary committee to study ways to improve access to movement disorder care for residents of Hawaii's neighbor islands, including the possibility of creating an air transport assistance fund.

Creates a Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee within the Department of Health.
Appoints members from various sectors such as health, transportation, and patient advocacy.
Directs the committee to examine travel needs, costs, funding models, and administrative mechanisms for an air transport assistance fund.
Requires the committee to submit a report with recommendations by December 30, 2026.

The amendment does not specify how much money will be appropriated or what specific actions the committee must take beyond submitting a report.

Bill History

2026-02-18 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 352-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-11 H
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 02-11-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-16 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE.
Movement Disorder Care; Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee; Patient Access; Interisland Travel; Report; Appropriation ($)
Establishes a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee to examine recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1575

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1575

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that access to
specialized care for individuals living with Parkinson's disease and related
movement disorders is limited in Hawaii.
�

The State's only designated movement disorder center is located on Oahu,
requiring residents of neighbor islands to travel long distances at significant
personal cost.

����
For many
patients and caregivers, traveling to Oahu for consultations, evaluations, and
treatment is financially prohibitive and logistically burdensome.
�
As Parkinson's disease progresses, mobility
challenges make air travel more difficult, increasing barriers to timely
care.
�
These inequities raise serious
concerns about access, quality of care, and long-term health outcomes for
residents living outside Oahu.

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The
legislature further finds that creating a dedicated state-administered fund,
with the ability to leverage federal grants, philanthropic dollars, and private
partnerships, may help offset transportation costs and ensure equitable access
to care for all Hawaii residents living with Parkinson's disease.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to establish a temporary Parkinson's patient air
transport feasibility committee to examine recommendations for improving access
to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the
feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�

There shall be established, within the department of health for
administrative purposes, the temporary Parkinson's patient air transport
feasibility committee.

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(b)
�
The committee shall consist of the following
members:

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(1)
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The director of health, or the director's
designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

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(2)
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The director of transportation, or the
director's designee;

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(3)
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One representative of the Parkinson's
community, appointed by the governor;

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(4)
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One physician specializing in movement
disorders, appointed by the dean of the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school
of medicine;

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(5)
�
One representative from a patient advocacy
organization, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

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(6)
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One representative from the airline industry,
appointed by the president of the senate.

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(c)
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The committee shall examine:

����
(1)
�
The number of Parkinson's patients residing on
each neighbor island and their estimated travel needs;

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(2)
�
Current costs borne by patients and caregivers
for interisland air travel and related lodging or transportation;

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(3)
�
Potential funding models for a
state-administered air transport assistance fund, including state
appropriations, federal grants, private foundation grants, and public-private
partnerships;

����
(4)
�
Administrative mechanisms to disburse
assistance equitably and efficiently;

����
(5)
�
Opportunities for collaboration with airlines,
health care providers, and nonprofits to reduce patient costs; and

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(6)
�
Any additional recommendations to improve
access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents.

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(d)
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The committee shall be seated no later than
September 30, 2026, and shall meet at least once per month, either
electronically or in person, in October, November, and December 2026.

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(e)
�
The committee shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the
legislature on or before December 30, 2026.

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(f)
�
The committee shall cease to exist on June
30, 2027.

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SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to carry out the purposes of this Act,
including staffing, research, travel, and administrative support for the temporary
Parkinson's patient air transport feasibility committee.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of
this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Movement
Disorder Care; Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee; Patient
Access; Interisland Travel; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee to examine
recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor
island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air
transport assistance fund.
�
Requires a
report to the Legislature.
�
Appropriates
funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.