Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 761, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide persons afflicted with serious mental illness with better access to necessary treatment by expanding the definition of "serious mental illness" in the law requiring insurance coverage for mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment.

Testimony in support of this bill was received from the Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Association, Mental Health Association in Hawaii, Hawaii Psychological Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Oahu, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and two concerned individuals. Hawaii Medical Service Association commented.

Your Committee finds that obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative disorder, delusional disorder, and major depression are biological in origin, like any other physical illness. Expanding coverage under the law to include these illnesses will provide for a fairer and more equal treatment of persons who suffer from mental illnesses.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 761, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.