STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2611

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2654
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2654, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
     TRUST FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish a traumatic brain
injury trust fund to defray the costs of treating traumatic brain
injuries.

     Specifically, this measure establishes the traumatic brain
injury trust fund to fund care and rehabilitative services for
state residents with a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury.
The bill creates a Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund Commission
to disburse moneys to applicants and to recommend to the Governor
and Legislature changes in programs, law, policies, budgets, and
standards relating to the care and rehabilitation of persons with
brain or spinal cord injuries.

     Additionally, the measure appropriates general revenues to
the trust fund and requires that the Traumatic Brain Injury
Advisory Board advise the Department of Health and the Commission
on the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan to
address the needs of persons affected by brain disorders and

 
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disabilities and on the feasibility of partnerships with the
private sector for services.

     Your Committee finds that twelve hundred people annually in
Hawaii receive traumatic brain injury, and that these people face
extensive recovery that requires treatments often not available
in Hawaii or that are too costly.  Support programs for family
members and caregivers also are lacking.  This measure would be a
significant step towards ensuring a productive recovery for
traumatic brain injury victims, and would benefit victims, their
families and the community.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2654, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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