STAND. COM. REP. NO. 416

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 970

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 970 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL HEALTH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that quality dental care services are provided to QUEST-eligible adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.

 

     The measure accomplishes this purpose by appropriating funds to the Hawaii Primary Care Association to establish or expand community-based dental health clinics operated by federally-qualified health centers to serve QUEST-eligible adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Oahu's Voice on Mental Illness, the Kokua Council, the Waikiki Health Center, and two individuals.

 

     Hawaii Primary Care Association submitted an estimated appropriation amount of $8 million for the biennium, $4 million per year for two years.

 

     Your Committees find that inadequate dental care is a serious matter and has been identified as one of the major health concerns for low-income adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.  Your Committees further find that community health centers have the capability to serve the target population.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting the language that requires that the appropriation be expended as a grant-in-aid executed pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 970, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 970, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Housing,

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair