STAND. COM. REP. NO.183-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2761
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2761 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to improve community oral health by:
(1) Fluoridating the public water systems;
(2) Hiring dental hygienists to provide comprehensive services to children in public schools; and
(3) Appropriating funds for:
(a) Operating expenses for the dental hygienists for public schools;
(b) Oral health services for uninsured individuals in certain community health centers;
(c) Start-up and operation costs of school and community-based dental sealant programs in underserved areas;
(d) General obligation bonds for planning oral health operatories at community health centers that do not have facilities and equipment for oral health services; and
(e) Basic dental services for adults covered by Medicaid and QUEST.
Aloha Care, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Dental Association, Honolulu Community Action Program, Inc., AIDS Community Care Team, Advocates for Consumer Rights, Childcare Business Coalition, Hawaii Kids Count, Kokua Kalihi Valley, and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.
The Maui County Council, Hawaii Citizens for Health, Green Party of Hawaii, and numerous concerned individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure. Seagull Schools, Inc., and several concerned individuals submitted comments.
Your Committee and many testifiers agreed that Hawaii is suffering from a poor oral health crisis, particularly in Hawaii's children. After lengthy discussion and hearing numerous testimonies in opposition of the fluoridation portion of the measure, your Committee decided to remove references to fluoridation, but strongly believes that action needs to be taken to improve community oral health, particularly for children and the underserved.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Removing the requirement to fluoridate public water systems;
(2) Changing all of the appropriations to $1 to promote further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2761, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2761, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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