STAND. COM. REP. NO. 403

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1456

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1456 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE ADULT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this emergency appropriation measure is to ensure the continuation of services provided by the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health.

 

     Specifically, this measure makes an emergency appropriation of $8,377,698, for fiscal year 2006-2007, for ongoing services of the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that the number of patients has dramatically increased over the last four years from approximately 4,500 to over 12,000 in fiscal year 2006.  This increase is primarily due to the expansion of services required by a settlement agreement resulting from United States v. State of Hawaii.  Although the State successfully exited the settlement agreement, additional funds are needed to maintain these services to the adults with severe and persistent mental illness provided by the Adult Mental Health Division.

 

     Your Committee finds, therefore, that the appropriation made by this measure is an important use of the State's financial resources.

 

     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 S.B. No. 1456 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair