Report Title:

Donated Dental Services; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the donated dental services program for the elderly, disabled, or medically compromised.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2105

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for donated dental services.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that donated dental services began as a pilot project in Colorado in 1985 and has since become operational in thirty-four states, including Hawaii, through the National Foundation for Dentistry for the Handicapped. This foundation is a charitable affiliate of the American Dental Association. The donated dental services program links eligible individuals who are elderly or disabled with volunteer dentists who provide needed dental care services.

The legislature further finds that Hawaii is one of thirty-four states implementing a donated dental services program. The Hawaii program began in January 2002 and is administered by the department of health, through the state council on developmental disabilities. Since the program started, eighty-seven individuals received completed dental care services with a total value of treatment of $230,045. The program involves sixty-one volunteer dentists and nineteen volunteer dental laboratories.

In an effort to address and support the dental care needs of people who are elderly or disabled in Hawaii, the legislature appropriated $83,320 to the program for fiscal year 2001-2002 and fiscal year 2002-2003. An appropriation of $30,765 was appropriated by the legislature for fiscal year 2004-2005. The donated dental services program has been extremely successful due to the legislature's continuous support through appropriations since its inception. Without additional financial support, the donated dental services program in Hawaii will end.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to continue implementation of the donated dental services program in Hawaii.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the donated dental services program in Hawaii.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

INTRODUCED BY:

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