Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2944, S.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is appropriate funds to assist individuals who are uninsured to obtain health care through nonprofit community-based health-care providers.

Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Healthcare Association of Hawaii testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees find that previously, Hawaii's uninsured population was estimated at below 5 percent. However, various factors such as changing economic conditions have contributed to an estimated 10 percent of the population being uninsured. Community health centers are effective in providing comprehensive services to residents of poor and disadvantaged communities.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2944, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2944, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.