STAND. COM. REP. NO. 695________

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 544
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.B. No. 544 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFETY NET HEALTH PLANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect access to health care
for Hawaii's poor and underserved populations by establishing a
Safety Net Health Plan program within the Department of Human
Services (DHS).

     The Hawaii State Primary Case Association, AlohaCare, the
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Healthy Mothers Health Babies
Coalition of Hawaii, the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health
Center, the Bay Clinic, the Waikiki Health Center, the Health
Care for the Homeless Project, and the Waimanalo Health Center
submitted testimony in support of this measure.  DHS submitted
testimony in opposition to this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 544 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be
referred to the Committee on Finance.


 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 695________
                                 Page 2

 
                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Human Services
                                   and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair