STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2044

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2010

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2010 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRUG TREATMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to provide drug treatment for drug abusers, and combat opioid and methamphetamine abuse.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, Beacon of Hope House, Ho'omanapono Political Action Committee, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and eight individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that addiction to and abuse of various types of drugs are growing problems in Hawaii.  Testimony received by your Committee indicates that substance use disorders encompass a wide variety of substances besides opioids, and that treatment admission data from 2010 to 2016 underscores the need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addiction in the State.  Your Committee further finds that drug treatment is a cost-effective way to manage drug abuse and control the source of the problem, and thereby save on costs for law enforcement, crime, corrections, and homelessness.

 

     Your Committee has heard the concerns of the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, who indicated that some treatment programs may turn away potential clients because the programs are designed or funded to treat only specific kinds of addiction, whereas the potential client suffers from more than one kind of addiction.

 

     Your Committee finds that amendments to this measure are appropriate to allow polydrug abusers to avail themselves of the treatment provided for by this measure.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Including the provision of treatment for polydrug abuse as an authorized use of the funds appropriated; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2010, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2010, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair