STAND. COM. REP. NO. 647-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2537
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No.
2537 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR THE
     ADULT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to authorize an emergency
appropriation to Hawaii State Hospital to:

     (1)  Continue to provide services for patients of the Hawaii
          State Hospital; and

     (2)  Develop and provide necessary community-based services
          for discharged patients of the Hawaii State Hospital.

     Your Committee has received a message from the Governor,
dated February 2, 2000:

     (1)  Stating that additional funding of $14,039,984 is
          needed for the Department of Health, Adult Mental
          Health Division, to continue services to patients at
          the Hawaii State Hospital and to develop and provide
          necessary community-based services for discharged
          patients of the Hawaii State Hospital as required by
          the U.S. Department of Justice Settlement Agreement;
          and


 
 
 
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                                 Page 2

 
     (2)  Requesting immediate passage of the bill to accommodate
          this funding requirement by March 1, 2000.

     The Department of Health, the Department of the Attorney
General, Nami Oahu, and an individual testified in support of
this bill.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2537 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on
the calendar for Third Reading.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair