Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2216, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the sunset provision on mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment benefits contained in Act 202, Session Laws of Hawaii 1988 ("Act 202"), as amended by various subsequent Acts, until July 1, 2004.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, Hawaii Psychological Association, Equal Insurance Coalition, Mental Health Association in Hawai'i, National Association of Social Workers, NAMI Oahu, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii Medical Association, and two concerned citizens. The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii submitted testimony expressing concerns about this measure.

Your Committees find that untreated mental illness and substance abuse result in unnecessary loss of financial and human resources within the public and private sector alike. Your Committees further find that the mental health and substance abuse treatment benefits established by Act 202 have been beneficial to many individuals and continuing these benefits is a step forward in achieving parity between mental and physical illnesses.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(2) Deleting the sunset provision on the benefits; and

(3) Changing the effective date to June 29, 2002.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2216, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2216, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.