Appropriates or authorizes funds from temporary assistance for needy families program funds for grants to Adult Friends for Youth, the Baby Hui, Hui Malama Learning Center, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., Maui Youth and Family Services, Inc., and Global Medilink Technology. (CD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hui Malama Learning Center provides alternative education programs for at-risk youths. Its programs include GED foundations and academic tutorials.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate or authorize moneys for a grant to Hui Malama Learning Center for alternative education programs.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated or authorized from temporary assistance for needy families funds the sum of $75,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for a grant to Hui Malama Learning Center for programs pursuant to this part; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 3. The legislature finds that Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. is a private, nonprofit community action agency. Its mission is to help the low-income elderly, children, and youth; people with disabilities; immigrants; other disadvantaged people; and the general public to help themselves become self-sufficient. Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. also provides transitional services to inmates at the Maui Community Correctional Center.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate or authorize moneys for a grant to Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. for transitional programs for inmates at the Maui Community Correctional Facility.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated or authorized from temporary assistance for needy families funds the sum of $175,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for a grant to Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., for programs pursuant to this part; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 5. The legislature finds that the Adult Friends for Youth is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to redirecting youth from delinquent gang behaviors into pro-social behaviors, allowing them to merge successfully with the social and economic mainstream.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate or authorize moneys for a grant to Adult Friends for Youth for its drug and youth gang prevention and rehabilitation program.

SECTION 6. There is appropriated or authorized from temporary assistance for needy families funds the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to Adult Friends for Youth for programs pursuant to this part; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

SECTION 7. The legislature finds that the Baby Hui provides low-income and teenaged parents with a positive support network through its positive parenting support groups, including neighborhood- and high school-based support groups for parents and children from birth to age three.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for the Baby Hui for fee waiver subsidies for low-income and teen parents participating in its positive parenting support groups.

SECTION 8. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families funds the sum of $24,800, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to the Baby Hui for programs pursuant to this part; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART V

SECTION 9. The legislature finds that Maui Youth and Family Services provides adolescent mental health programs, including components for pregnancy prevention and family strengthening.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate or authorize moneys for a grant to Maui Youth and Family Services for adolescent residential behavioral health programs.

SECTION 10. There is appropriated or authorized from the temporary assistance for needy families funds the sum of $600,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to Maui Youth and Family Services, Inc. for programs pursuant to this part; provided that funds shall be used only for purposes authorized under federal guidelines.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

PART VI

SECTION 11. The legislature finds that the Oral Health Institute of the Pacific program was opened in 2004 to increase access to oral health services by providing clinical dental services and case management to special needs patients, and underserved children and adults. These underserved children and adults are medicaid, QUEST, or SCHIP recipients or are uninsured, and have not had access to oral health services in many years. The underserved population includes geriatric patients, children with special needs, adult mental health patients, renal dialysis patients, heart transplant patients, persons with HIV/AIDS, former inmates, and the homeless.

The underserved population by and large cannot access dental services in their communities. This is due to dentist non-participation with Med-QUEST, low medicaid program reimbursement rates for dental services at only twenty-five per cent of the cost of treatment, and excessive paperwork for billing medicaid. Accordingly, the number of dental providers who actively treat these patients is alarmingly small. On Maui, there are fewer than five dentists who see these 14,765 patients. Approximately half are children under age twenty-one. One pediatric dentist who practices on Maui participates with Med-QUEST. Sometimes children are flown to Oahu, accompanied by a parent or guardian, for dental treatment. This requires extensive coordination and case management and can be very traumatic for the patient, and costly to the State.

The purpose of this part is to make an appropriation for a grant to Global Medilink Technology Inc. for the Oral Health Institute of the Pacific program so it can continue to operate dental clinics and provide dental services to low income and uninsured people.

SECTION 12. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to Global Medilink Technology Inc. for programs pursuant to this part.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this part.

SECTION 13. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.