Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1965 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the inadequate and limited amount of residential drug treatment opportunities in rural areas, especially on the neighbor islands.

Specifically, the bill appropriates an unspecified amount to build and operate residential drug treatment facilities for adults and children in rural areas in the counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and the Drug Policy Action Group.

Your Committee finds that, in order to develop safe, healthy communities, substance abuse treatment must be available to those who need it. There are no adult residential treatment facilities on the islands of Kauai and Hawaii. Moreover, there are no adolescent residential services available on Kauai. While the island of Maui offers both adult and adolescent treatment programs, the programs are often full, thus generating a waiting list for those who need treatment.

In addition, your Committee notes that, while some individuals may have the resources or family support to travel to Oahu or Maui, there are many that lack travel funds or prefer to remain on the island of their residence.

Your Committee has amended the measure by inserting $1 as the appropriated amount to ensure continued discussion on this issue.

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 H.B. No. 1965, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1965, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.