STAND. COM. REP. NO.1572

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.C.R. No. 96

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 96 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONTINUING THE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE STATE'S EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH THE FELIX CONSENT DECREE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the Senate-House Investigative Committee (Investigative Committee) until June 30, 2004, to continue its investigation on the State's compliance with the Felix Consent Decree.

Testimony supporting the intent of the measure was received from the Superintendent of Education. The Hawaii State Teachers Association strongly supported the measure.

Your Committee finds that the Investigative Committee was established through Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 65, S.D. 1, H.D. 1 in 2001, and extended by House Concurrent Resolution No. 7, H.D. 1 in 2002, to investigate the State's efforts to comply with the Felix Consent Decree. Because of the Investigative Committee's efforts, a $1,000,000 settlement was announced on February 5, 2003, following an investigation of suspected fraud, abuse, and overcharging in connection with the Felix Consent Decree.

Your Committee agrees that the Investigative Committee should be extended because investigation is continuing into billings by other care providers and the Attorney General recently obtained a "no contest" plea from a therapeutic aide charged with ten felony counts of medical assistance fraud.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 96, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair