Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2600 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide QUEST and Medicaid coverage for Micronesians living in Hawaii under the terms of the Compact of Free Association.

Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Na Loio – Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. DHS provided comments.

Your Committees find that there is a sizable population of Micronesians who have moved to Hawaii under the terms of the Compact of Free Association. Some of these citizens move to Hawaii specifically to obtain quality medical care, but do not always have the financial resources to pay for the care.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2600, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2600, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.