STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1375-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2448
                                     S.D. 2
                                     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 S.B. No.
2448, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance services for autism
and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) by:

     (1)  Establishing the Hawaii Autism Center for Excellence
          (Center) within the University of Hawaii at Manoa,
          School of Medicine, for autism and ASD services,
          training, and research; and

     (2)  Appropriating unspecified funds for start-up funding of
          the Center.

     Supporting testimony was received from the John A. Burns
School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the
Department of Education, the Department of Health, the State
Children's Council, the Hawaii Speech-Language-Hearing
Association, the Hawaii affiliate organization for the Autism
Society of America, the Institute for Family Enrichment, the
Hawaii Coalition of Health, and several individuals.

 
 
 
 
 
 
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     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Center is to conduct and coordinate
          research that shall be a multidisciplinary effort among
          educational, psychosocial, and behavioral disciplines;
          and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No.
2448, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it
pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2448,
S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair