Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 3142, H.D. 2, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to sustain trauma care resources in the State by:

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association and one individual. Testimony in support of amendments to this measure was submitted by the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente, and The Queen's Medical Center. Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Health and the Department of Budget and Finance. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committees find that the intent of this measure is generally supported by all testifiers. However, the measure as written should be amended to clarify its purposes of ensuring availability of care for trauma patients and establishing dedicated sources of funding.

The Department of Health and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii recommend an amendment for clarification purposes that establishes an inclusive trauma system fund that will serve the needs of all residents and visitors in the State.

Your Committees further find that this measure proposes to transfer monies from the environmental response revolving fund to the trauma care fund. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii recommend amending this measure by removing the environmental response fund as a source of revenue because it does not reflect a clear nexus between the benefits sought and the charges made upon users or beneficiaries of the trauma care fund.

Your Committees have amended this measure by replacing its contents with the contents of S.B. No. 2764, S.D. 2, which creates a trauma care special fund, deletes the surcharges to fund the fund, and replaces that with an additional motor vehicle registration fee. It also requires an annual report on expenditures of the special fund and progress toward developing a fully integrated statewide trauma system.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3142, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3142, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.