STAND. COM. REP. NO. 423-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2765
                                     




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No.
2765 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CHILD AND
     ADOLESCENT TRAUMA RECOVERY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to develop expertise to assist
children and youth exposed to traumatic violence and abuse by
establishing a multidisciplinary center for child and adolescent
trauma recovery (Center) at the University of Hawaii (UH).

     The Kauai Mokihana Project, the Kapiolani Child Protection
Center, the Behavior Therapy Clinic and the Health Psychology
Concentration at UH, the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and
Legal Hotline, and several individuals testified in support of
this measure.  The Departments of Health (DOH) and Education
opposed this measure.  The Judiciary opposed the provision
requiring the Judiciary to enter into a memorandum of agreement
to provide funding for support staff and facilities for the
Center.  The UH John A. Burns School of Medicine submitted
comments.

     Your Committee finds that this measure, while sound, is
duplicative of a DOH multidisciplinary task force established to
review assessment, diagnostic, and treatment approaches for youth
of all diagnostic categories and provide guidance on treatment
approaches that have been studied for their effectiveness.
Through the task force, DOH has initiated efforts similar to this

 
 
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measure in addressing the systematic training of professionals in
the most promising practices, not only for traumatized youth, but
also for all youth in need of mental health services.

     For purposes of further discussion, your Committee will be
passing this measure out of committee to give the task force an
opportunity to develop additional language to strengthen this
bill.

     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.
2765 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred
to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair