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 S.B. No. 2502, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to continue to provide necessary dental health services to eligible elderly or disabled individuals by appropriating funds to continue implementation of the Donated Dental Services Program in Hawaii.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Donated Dental Services Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Dental Association, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped supported this bill.

Your Committee finds that many elderly or disabled people have serious dental problems because they cannot afford necessary treatment and public assistance is unavailable or difficult to find. The Donated Dental Services Program works towards meeting this need for those at-risk individuals and should be allowed to continue its services for Hawaii's people.

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 S.B. No. 2502, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.