STAND. COM. REP. NO. 246-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2810
                                     H.D. 1



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.
2810 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO HIRE THIRTY
     FULL-TIME REGISTERED NURSES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF
     HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to expand school-based health
services by appropriating funds to hire thirty full-time
registered nurses to provide nursing services to each of Hawaii's
twenty-nine school complexes, and one unassigned nurse to provide
coverage when others are sick or on vacation.

     The Hawaii Nurses' Association and two individuals testified
in support of this measure.  The Departments of Health (DOH) and
Education (DOE) supported the intent of the measure to the extent
it did not affect their current budgetary priorities.  The Hawaii
Government Employees Association testified in support of the
intent of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that there are currently twenty-four
vacant Public Health Nursing positions, which is inadequate to
provide comprehensive and coordinated health services in Hawaii's
public schools.  Your Committee believes that it is necessary to
fill these vacant positions to ensure quality health services for
students.


 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 246-00
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Designating DOH, instead of DOE, as the expending
          agency; 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.
2810, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2810, 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