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 S.B. No. 2727 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support neurotrauma

survivors by allowing funds from the neurotrauma special fund to be used for direct health care services.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Services for the Disabled, and six individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health. Comments were received from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that the neurotrauma special fund needs to be better utilized. Over the past few years, little has been done with the fund except to pay staff salaries. The fund was created to provide education, assist in identifying and accessing services, and develop a registry of individuals with neurotrauma injuries. However, the registry has not been created and a support coordination contract has not been implemented.

Your Committees further find that the neurotrauma special fund will better serve the needs of neurotrauma survivors by funding direct services for these individuals and establishing a waiver program to leverage federal funds and attract private grant matching funds.

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 S.B. No. 2727 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.