STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1623

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 26
                                        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. 26, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO
     STUDY THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATING THE
     INCLUSION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY WITHIN MENTAL
     HEALTH AND ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT INSURANCE
     BENEFITS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to request the
Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of mandating
the inclusion of marriage and family therapy within mental health
and alcohol and drug abuse treatment insurance benefits.

     S.B. No. 860, H.D. 1, 1999, proposes to amend chapter 431M,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, by broadening the scope of benefits
available under health plans for mental health and alcohol and
drug abuse treatment to include marriage and family therapy.
Because this bill mandates the inclusion of a specific service or
health care provider as part of a health insurance plan, section
23-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the adoption of a
Concurrent Resolution requesting the Auditor to assess the
mandate's social and financial effects before the bill can be
considered.  This Concurrent Resolution makes that request.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1623
                                   Page 2


     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. 26,
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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