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. 3022 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purposes of this measure are to:

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and Opportunities for the Retarded, Inc. Comments on this measure were received from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME, Local 152, AFL-CIO, and the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Testimony opposing this measure was received from the Department of Health and the State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Your Committee finds that there needs to be a mechanism to assure the public that Hawaii's health care system is sound, just, and responsive to the needs of the public. Since its establishment, SHPDA has served an important role by assuring that health care services are effective, efficient, and appropriate. Your Committee finds that SHPDA's good performance indicates that it has the ability to manage other related responsibilities. This measure provides SHPDA with additional authority, duties, and powers that will further ensure that Hawaii's health care system meets the growing needs of Hawaii residents.

Your Committee understands that the provisions of this measure need to undergo further scrutiny during the legislative process. Regardless, your Committee believes that SHPDA is an entity that provides services and functions that should be permanently integrated into Hawaii's health care system in the future.

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. 3022 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.