STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO.1161-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 594

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 594, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NEUROTRAUMA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to assist neurotrauma survivors and their families by:

(1) Establishing the Neurotrauma Advisory Board within the Department of Health (DOH) to develop programs and services related to neurotrauma;

(2) Creating the Neurotrauma Special Fund (Special Fund) to be used for programs related to neurotrauma;

(3) Exempting the Special Fund from government-wide pro rata shares of central service expenses and departmental administrative expenses; and

(4) Establishing surcharges to be imposed on individuals convicted of various traffic safety offenses which are to be deposited to the credit of the Special Fund.

The State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board, Law Offices of Ian L. Mattoch, All-Star Sports and Therapy Center, Brain Injury Association of Hawaii, and numerous individuals submitted testimony in support of this bill. DOH and the Disability and Communication Access Board submitted testimony in support of the intent of this bill. The Department of Budget and Finance submitted testimony in opposition to this bill. The Judiciary and two individuals submitted comments on this bill.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 594, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 594, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

		____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair