STAND. COM. REP. NO. 805

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 782

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 782, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation from the Early Intervention Special Fund for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health for early intervention services for infants and children.

Your Committee finds that, although funds were appropriated to the Department of Health for the Family Health Services Division for fiscal year 2004-2005, a critical need for further funding occurred based on an April 16, 2004, federal court stipulation for the step-down plan and termination of the revised consent decree between the State of Hawaii and the plaintiff class in Felix v. Lingle, Civil No. 93-00367.

Pursuant to this stipulation, the Department of Health must continue to carry out its statutory obligations to the plaintiff class, provide services as mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, maintain a system of care for the plaintiff class, and ensure that eligible children will receive specified services in a consistent and timely manner.

These unexpected and additional duties and responsibilities have exhausted the appropriation previously made, thus prompting this emergency appropriation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 782, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair