STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2233

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2877
                                        




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2877 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL
     HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make emergency
appropriations of $17,735,924, out of the general fund, and
$378,646, out of the child and adolescent mental health special
fund, for services to emotionally disturbed children and
adolescents.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Health, Attorney General, Department of
Education, State Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council,
Easter Seals, HGEA-AFSCME, and Mental Health Association in
Hawaii.

     This measure is to fund services required under the Felix v.
Cayetano case, now pending in the United States District Court.
The expenditures are necessary for the State to comply with
court-ordered mandates to bring the State up to constitutionally
acceptable standards for the provision of services to emotionally
disturbed children and adolescents.

     According to testimony of the DOH, unanticipated increases
in the cost to serve children and adolescents who are severely
emotionally disturbed, and obligations associated with the

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2233
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consent decree in Felix v. Cayetano will increase the
expenditures of the child and adolescent mental health division
beyond amounts authorized for fiscal year 1999-2000.

     Although the testimony of the DOH has outlined the proposed
expenditure of funds from the appropriation under this measure,
your Committee has requested the DOH to provide an itemization of
the proposed expenditures which the DOH has agreed to do.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2877 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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