Appropriates funds to the department of health for food, housing, and transportation assistance for HIV/AIDS patients.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that food, housing, and transportation assistance is crucial to supporting patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. Like many health problems, HIV disease disproportionately affects people in poverty, minority populations, and others who are underserved by healthcare and prevention systems. The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, passed in 1990, is federal legislation that addresses the unmet needs of persons living with the HIV disease/AIDS. Federal funding through the CARE Act reaches over five hundred thousand individuals each year, making it the federal government's largest program for people living with HIV disease.

The legislature notes, however, that federal CARE funding has sharply decreased in recent years, leaving many HIV/AIDS patients in Hawaii without adequate food, housing, and transportation services. The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of health for food, housing, and transportation assistance for HIV/AIDS patients. The legislature finds that such funds will help alleviate budget deficits and hardships incurred by individuals, organizations, and the State due to federal funding cuts.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for food, housing, and transportation assistance for eligible HIV/AIDS patients.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health to be used to provide food, housing, and transportation assistance for eligible HIV/AIDS patients. The department of health, in its discretion, may contract with individuals and agencies that receive or have received, and are eligible for federal CARE funding, to provide such services.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.