Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 789 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to reimburse developmental disabilities or mental retardation Medicaid waiver providers for fiscal year 2004-2005.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Health's program to provide home and community based services for the developmentally disabled or mentally retarded, also known as the Title XIX Waiver Program, will expend all appropriated funds before the end of the current fiscal year. The Department needs additional funds to meet its fiscal obligations to support its developmentally disabled or mentally retarded clients with services as required by state law and to continue to fulfill its obligations under a federal court settlement agreement.

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 S.B. No. 789 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.