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. 3259, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide dental health services to QUEST-eligible adults and children, the aged, the blind, and the disabled population by appropriating funds for community-based dental health clinics that are operated by community health centers or other community-based organizations.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Kokua Council, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, the Molokai Community Health Center, Blueprint for Change, NAMI Oahu, Kokua Kalihi Valley, and seventeen individuals. The Department of Health, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the Hawaii Primary Care Association submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure. The Department of the Attorney General expressed concerns about the measure.

Your Committees find that there is a critical need for accessible dental services for QUEST-eligible adults and children, the developmentally disabled, and the uninsured. Appropriating funds to the Department of Health to contract with federally qualified health centers will provide these necessary dental services to those in need in an effective and cost-efficient manner. Your Committees further find that the value of this appropriation will be maximized by allocating funds for equipment and service delivery.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by changing the population to be served by the community-based dental services to QUEST-eligible adults and children, the developmentally disabled, and the uninsured.

Your Committees further amended this measure by including equipment and service delivery in the appropriation.

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. 3259, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3259, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.