STAND. COM. REP. NO.1054

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 100

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 100 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hawaii autism center of excellence within the University of Hawaii school of medicine and make an appropriation to effectuate the purpose of this Act.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, Department of Education, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Coalition for Health, Autism Society of Hawaii, and four private citizens.

Your Committee finds that there is a need for local expertise and resources in the area of autism and autism spectrum disorders. Your Committee further finds that with over 470 Hawaii youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division spent nearly $10 million in fiscal year 2000. Although the total numbers are small, these individuals require specialty services, focused educational programming, and professional assistance with targeted training and expertise. The Autism Center of Excellence is needed in part to recommend best practices for Hawaii's autism population.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting S.B. No. 90, S.D. 1, which reflects the preferred drafting style, and corrects technical errors. Your Committee further amended this measure by creating an advisory board within the University of Hawaii to advise the Department of Health, Education, Human Services, and the Judiciary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 100, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 100, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair