Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Consumer Protection and Commerce and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2091 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to repeal the sunset date of chapter 431M, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Insurance Benefits.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Community Alliance on Prisons, Equal Insurance Coalition, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Psychological Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Oahu, Mental Health Association in Hawaii, Hawaii Nurses' Association, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and a concerned individual. The Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association supported the bill and suggested an amendment. The Department of Health supported the intent of this bill. The Chamber of Commerce provided comments.

Your Committees heard the companion to this bill, H.B. No. 2216, earlier this session, and felt that more discussion was warranted before making mental health and substance abuse benefits permanent. Your Committees accordingly amended the bill to extend the sunset date of chapter 431M, HRS, which was set to take effect on July 1, 2002, to July 1, 2004.

However, in light of compelling testimony, your Committees now believe that rather than extending the sunset provision for two years, it would be in the best interest of the people of Hawaii to include mental health and substance abuse benefits on a permanent basis.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Consumer Protection and Commerce and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2091 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.