Hawaii’s care home industry opposes the practice, even though it has become commonplace in other states.

Some owners of long-term care facilities object to the legislation, which is set for consideration by the full Senate on Tuesday.

Compromise legislation that included requirement for surprise inspections now contains only an industry-backed measure rejected last year.

Hawaii health officials say they “strongly supported” a bill that would let them stop following a law they’ve struggled to comply with, but senators killed the measure.

Citing a “public health crisis,” a state senator wants a half-percent surcharge on the general excise tax to fund elder caregiving. Will other lawmakers buy in?

The state Health Department wants the money to improve how it manages inspections and posts public information online.

Health Department officials say they want to stop giving care home operators advance warning of inspections. But they have no plan to change that policy.

The Hawaii agency had stopped complying with the legal mandate, blaming a lack of resources, but started again after lawmakers sent the governor a letter.

Hawaii lawmakers send the governor a letter asking him to push the Health Department to resume posting the reports.