STAND. COM. REP. NO. 807-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 540
                                     H.D. 2




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.
540, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to:

     (1)  Provide medical assistance for all children under the
          State's Children Health Insurance Program (Program) up
          to 300 percent of the federal poverty level for Hawaii,
          by:

          (A)  Transferring an unspecified percentage of the
               total moneys received by the State from tobacco
               settlement moneys to the Department of Human
               Services (DHS) for the Program; and

          (B)  Appropriating funds from the Hawaii Tobacco
               Settlement Special Fund to the Program;

          and

     (2)  Provide health insurance for legal permanent residents
          who arrived in the United States (U.S.) after August
          22, 1999, immigrants who are permanently residing in
          the U.S. under color of law, and persons who are
          residing in the U.S. with the knowledge or permission
          of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, by:

 
 
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                                 Page 2

 
          (A)  Authorizing DHS to provide state-funded medical
               assistance for these persons; and

          (B)  Appropriating funds for this purpose.

     Na Loio Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center,
Hawaii State Primary Care Association, Hawaii State Primary Care
Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Catholic
Conference, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Papa Ola Lokahi, Hawaii
Head Start State Collaboration Project, and an individual
testified in support of this measure.  DHS testified in support
of the intent of this measure.

     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.
540, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair