Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2582 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the donated dental services for the elderly, disabled, or medically compromised.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Hawaii State Council on Development Disabilities, the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, Hawaii Dental Association, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, a dentist, and five dental patients of the program.

Your Committee finds that the program provides free comprehensive dental treatment to a very needy population that would not otherwise have access to extensive dental treatment. Your Committee further finds that the requested appropriation is a very small investment with far-reaching effects and positive outcomes. It will generate over $110,000 worth of donated dental services for sixty-eight people.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2582 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.