STAND. COM. REP. NO. 602

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1274
                                     H.D. 1




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No.
1274 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide a well-planned and
coordinated system of services and supports for persons with
traumatic brain injury (TBI) by appropriating funds to the
Department of Health (DOH) to develop a statewide public health
strategy for the treatment and rehabilitation for the survivors
of TBI.

     The Hawaii Medical Service Association, the TBI State
Advisory Board, the Department of Education, the Brain Injury
Association of Hawaii, and several individuals submitted
testimony in support of this measure.  DOH submitted testimony in
support of the intent of this measure as long as the
appropriations do not adversely impact the executive budget
priorities.

     Your Committee believes that a coordinated system of
services and supports created through the process of assessment
and planning is in the best interest of individuals with a brain
injury and the community at large.  The system would provide
services through a continuum of care, from trauma and acute care,
to reintegration into the community, to individuals of all ages
who have an acquired brain injury.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 602
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     Furthermore, your Committee finds that TBI is one of two
categories most recently added by the federal Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act to the list of possible disabilities a
student can have, making the student eligible for special
education services.  And, depending on the location of the brain
injury, the student may be in need of mental health and other
services in addition to specialized educational programs.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Replacing the $63,000 to fund the activities
          coordinator with the sum of $50,000; and

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

     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.
1274, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1274, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair