Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2227 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Health, district health offices, to provide dental care in the counties of Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawai'i Primary Care Association, Kauai Dental Health Task Force, Mental Health Association in Hawai'i, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony opposing the measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the neighbor islands experience many challenges in getting adequate and appropriate dental services. In addition to their isolated geographic rural locations, the low proportion of available dentists and high proportion of uninsured individuals compounds the need for people to get necessary dental care. The funds appropriated to the counties will not take care of all oral health needs, however, it will begin to address current disparities and access to dental care services.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2227 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.