STAND. COM. REP. NO. 654________

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1726
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to
which was referred H.B. No. 1726 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill, as received by your Committees, is
to make health services and programs available to certain persons
on limited incomes by:

     (1)  Enabling these persons to receive such services without
          having to meet any spend-down requirements; and

     (2)  Providing for an annual appropriation to carry out the
          purposes of the bill.

     Life Foundation and two individuals submitted testimony in
support of the measure.  The Department of Health submitted
testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The
Department of Human Services (DHS) submitted comments.

     Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended
this bill by deleting the substance and inserting new material
which appropriates funds to enable DHS to raise the income
eligibility level for the medically needy program to one hundred
thirty-three percent of the assistance allowance, thereby
enabling qualified persons on limited incomes to receive
necessary health services and programs.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 654________
                                 Page 2

 
     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are
attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the
intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1726, as amended herein, and
recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto
as H.B. No. 1726, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on
Finance.

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

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair       DENNIS ARAKAKI, Chair