REPORT TITLE:
Traumatic Brain Injuries; App


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates moneys to the department of health to develop a
statewide strategic plan for the treatment and rehabilitation of
survivors with traumatic brain injuries; provides for matching
funds; and moneys for a project coordinator.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                             
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           1257
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                     
STATE OF HAWAII                                                 
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the problem of
 
 2 traumatic brain injury and its effects is serious and far
 
 3 reaching.  Injury is the leading cause of mortality among
 
 4 Americans under forty-five years of age and traumatic brain
 
 5 injury is responsible for the majority of these deaths.
 
 6 Traumatic brain injury claims more than fifty-six thousand
 
 7 American lives annually and is the cause of hospitalization for
 
 8 an estimated three hundred seventy-three thousand Americans
 
 9 annually.  In Hawaii, the Hawaii health corporation estimates
 
10 that twelve hundred people are discharged annually from Hawaii's
 
11 hospitals with traumatic brain injury.
 
12      The impact of a traumatic brain injury can be devastating.
 
13 In children, traumatic brain injury is likely to result in
 
14 multiple functional limitations and long-term disabilities,
 
15 thereby interrupting or delaying normal development.  In addition
 
16 to physical difficulties, traumatic brain injury victims and
 
17 their families face social, emotional, and financial problems.
 
18 The average medical cost for a three to six months initial
 
19 hospitalization for a traumatic brain injury is $75,000.  The
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           1257
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 survivor of a severe brain injury typically faces five to ten
 
 2 years of intensive treatment at an estimated cost in excess of
 
 3 $4,000,000 to $7,000,000.
 
 4      Currently, Hawaii lacks a system that provides, manages, and
 
 5 monitors services for individuals with traumatic brain injuries,
 
 6 and effective and affordable treatment and rehabilitation
 
 7 programs are not available.  Support programs for family members
 
 8 and caregivers are also lacking. 
 
 9      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the
 
10 department of health to develop a statewide public health
 
11 strategy for the treatment and rehabilitation of the survivors of
 
12 traumatic brain injury.
 
13      SECTION 2.  There is established in the department of health
 
14 the office of the project coordinator for the development of a
 
15 traumatic brain injury statewide strategic plan.  The project
 
16 coordinator shall be an an employee of the department and shall
 
17 work with the traumatic brain injury state advisory board to
 
18 develop the plan.  
 
19      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
20 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $37,000, or so much
 
21 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 for the
 
22 development of a traumatic brain injury statewide strategic plan.
 
23 The funds appropriated shall be used to qualify for matching
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           1257
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 grants, $1 state to $2 from other sources, including federal,
 
 2 local, and private funding sources, including individual and
 
 3 corporate contributors. 
 
 4      SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 5 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $63,000, or so much
 
 6 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, to fund
 
 7 the activities of the office of the project coordinator for the
 
 8 development of a traumatic brain injury statewide strategic plan,
 
 9 including the expenses of gathering statewide input from the
 
10 community and public and private health industries to establish a
 
11 traumatic brain injury system.
 
12      SECTION 5.  The sums appropriated shall be expended by the
 
13 department of health for the purposes of this Act.
 
14      SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
15 
 
16                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________