Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1430, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to provide oral health services to children in underserved areas.

Your Committee finds that the oral health care of children in underserved areas has been an on-going priority of the Legislature. Last year, the Legislature appropriated $500,000 to hire licensed dental hygienists to provide needed dental care to underserved areas, but the funds were restricted by the Administration.

This bill represents the Legislature's continued efforts to address the dental care needs of the community. The funds provided by this bill will provide:

(1) Topical fluoride applications;

(2) Oral health screening;

(3) Dental sealant applications;

(5) Case management and consultation for special cases.

Your Committee has amended the bill by deleting the amount appropriated to promote further discussion on this matter, and by making a few technical nonsubstantive amendments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1430, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1430, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.