Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2216, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make permanent the 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.

Your Committee finds that untreated mental illness and substance abuse result in unnecessary loss of financial and human resources within the public and private sector alike. Your Committee further finds 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.

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 H.B. No. 2216, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.