STAND. COM. REP. NO. 298

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 322
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 322
entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR RESPITE CARE
     SERVICES FOR FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to make an appropriation to the
Department of Health for respite care services to families
providing home care to a family member with special needs.

     The State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities,
the Commission on Persons With Disabilities, The Arc in Hawaii,
Kona Krafts, Catholic Charities, Brantley Center, Inc., and
numerous concerned members of the community submitted testimony
in support of this measure.  The Department of Health supported
the measure provided it does not adversely impact the funding
priorities of the Executive Budget.

     Your Committee finds the issue addressed by this measure to
be of great importance. While your committee would like to
recommend full funding for these services, your Committee defers
to the Finance Committee for the final appropriation amount.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amount to $1 for the purpose
          of further discussion; and


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 298
                                 Page 2

 
     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
322, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 322, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health,



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair