STAND. COM. REP. NO.  728

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1534

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1534 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR COVERAGE OF CERTIFIED SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health, for a pilot program to be administered through the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, to provide substance abuse counseling and behavior health services to the homeless and uninsured on the Waianae Coast.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and a concerned citizen.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center has identified an outpatient substance abuse treatment provider who will provide non-residential specialized services on a scheduled basis for individuals with substance abuse problems.  The provider began its operations in 1994 and has experience in providing substance abuse treatment services.  Your Committee further finds that funds are needed to ensure that the pilot program will be successfully administered under the comprehensive primary care services contract with the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting the sum of $65,000 for the appropriation.

 

     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. 1534, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1534, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair