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. 2374 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate emergency funding to cover expenses relating to the ongoing operation, services, and activities at the Hawaii state hospital, for community-based services, and for individuals already placed in community-based services.

This bill appropriates $6,148,944 and $4,724,703 for fiscal year 2005-2006 out of the mental health and substance abuse special fund and out of general revenues, respectively, to be used to sustain the ongoing operation, services, and activities for patients at the Hawaii state hospital, to provide community-based services necessary to reduce the census at the Hawaii state hospital, and to address expenses relating to those individuals who have already been placed in community-based services. The appropriated amounts are to be expended by the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this bill from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, the Hawaii Mental Health Alliance, and the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association.

Your Committee believes that the emergency appropriations in this measure are necessary, especially in order to comply with the requirements of the settlement agreement and subsequent orders in United States v. State of Hawaii, Civil Number 91-00137 (DAE-KSC).

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. 2374 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.