STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1083-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2448
                                     S.D. 2
                                     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 S.B. No.
2448, S.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish the Hawaii Autism
Center for Excellence (Center) within the University of Hawaii at
Manoa, School of Medicine (School of Medicine).

     Specifically, this bill establishes the Center as a central
clinical and academic resource for autism and autism spectrum
disorder diagnostic assessment and evaluation.  Additionally, the
Center will be a resource for therapeutic and educational
interventions, consultation, training, and applied clinical
research.

     The Department of Education, School of Medicine, Autism
Society of Hawaii, Hawaii Coalition for Health, the State
Children's Council, and several individuals supported this bill.
The Department of Health (DOH) supported this bill with suggested
amendments.

     Your Committee finds that autism is a developmental
disability that typically appears in children before the age of
three.  Autism generally keeps afflicted children from achieving
independence as adults and requires them to be cared for
throughout their lifetime.  Your Committee finds that the Center

 
 
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will serve as a much-needed support facility and research site
for this complex neurological disorder.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical,
nonsubstantive changes as requested by the DOH for purposes of
accuracy, style, and clarity.

     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 S.B. No.
2448, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2448, S.D.
2, 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