STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1648

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 121
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 121, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A JOINT
     LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL
     HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to establish a
Joint Legislative Committee on Child and Adolescent Mental
Health.

     This Concurrent Resolution is primarily intended to address
the problems of implementing the requirements of the Felix
consent decree.  The State has until June 30, 2002, to comply by
implementing a system of care to provide services for the Felix
class.  This measure is intended to help the Legislature keep
abreast of Felix compliance measures with a view towards ensuring
that the State meets the deadline.

     This Concurrent Resolution directs the Joint Legislative
Committee to:

     (1)  Address the concerns and recommendations raised by the
          Auditor's Report No. 98-20, "Assessment of the State's
          Efforts Related to the Felix Consent Decree";


 
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     (2)  Determine the extent of coordination between the
          Department of Education and Department of Health in the
          delivery of needed services for Felix class members;
          and

     (3)  Examine fiscal issues and implications needed for
          compliance.

     The Concurrent Resolution sets the membership of the Joint
Legislative Committee as follows:

     (1)  The Chair or Vice-Chair of the House Committees on:

          (A)  Health;

          (B)  Education;

          (C)  Human Services; and

          (D)  Finance;

          and

     (2)  The Chair or Vice-Chair of the Senate Committees on:

          (A)  Heath and Human Services;

          (B)  Education and Technology; and

          (C)  Ways and Means.

     The Concurrent Resolution also directs the Joint Legislative
Committee to establish an expert panel consisting of
representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of
Human Services, and nationally-recognized professionals in
relevant fields, to:

     (1)  Advise the Joint Legislative Committee;

     (2)  Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of current plans to
          meet the terms of the consent decree; and

     (3)  Provide alternative models for compliance.

     The Concurrent Resolution further directs the Joint
Legislative Committee to form a resource committee of persons in
the private sector representing parent organizations, consumer

 
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groups, and provider groups.  Finally, the Legislative Reference
Bureau is requested to assist the Joint Legislative Committee in
research and submitting findings and recommendations.  The Joint
Legislative Committee is directed to submit these findings and
recommendations no later than twenty days prior to the convening
of the Regular Session of 2000.

     Your Committee wishes to strongly emphasize that it fully
expects both the Senate and the House of Representatives to take
active roles in providing the necessary staff support from the
two houses, respectively, to staff the Joint Legislative
Committee.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 121,
S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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