STAND. COM. REP. NO.3182
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2761
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
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. 2761, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive statewide strategy to address the issue of poor oral health of Hawaii's people, especially its children.
In particular, this measure provides a range of alternatives for prevention, intervention, and treatment to improve the quality of oral health in the State by:
(1) Requiring licensed dental hygienists in the Department of Health to provide comprehensive services to children in public schools;
(2) Appropriating funds:
(A) To hire dental hygienists and supporting staff;
(B) For operating costs;
(C) For oral health services for uninsured individuals in community health centers serving areas with higher rates of dental caries when compared to the rest of the State;
(D) For start up and operational costs of school and community-based dental sealant programs in underserved areas in the State; and
(E) To provide basic dental services for adults covered by the Medicaid and QUEST medical assistance programs;
and
(3) Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriating funds to plan oral health operatories at community health centers that do not have facilities and equipment for oral health services.
Your Committee agrees with the intent of this measure, and finds that Hawaii's children, especially those from poor families, lack regular and proper dental care. Your Committee further finds that providing dental health services for these children will promote positive oral health habits and prevent development of more serious dental problems through early detection and treatment in a school setting.
Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing the sums appropriated with blank amounts in order to facilitate further discussion on the funding necessary to carry out the purposes of this measure.
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. 2761, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2761, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair |
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