STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1668-06
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2006
RE: S.B. No. 3273
S.D. 2
H.D. 2
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2006
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 3273, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to improve the process by which public school students are assessed and treated for substance abuse by:
(1) Making the zero tolerance policy for public schools, as amended by Act 213, permanent;
(2) Further amending the public school zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol as recommended by the Student Substance Abuse Assessment and Treatment Advisory Task Force; and
(3) Allowing certified substance abuse counselors to conduct assessments to qualify individuals for substance abuse-related insurance benefits.
The Department of Health supported the intent of this bill. The Department of Education, Hina Mauka, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and a concerned individual supported this measure with amendments. The Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments.
Your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Deleting the requirements for assessments to be completed within ten days of the request for a determination if the applicant faces disciplinary action for violating the policy for drugs and alcohol in public schools, and allowing an insurance or health care plan carrier to contract with DOH to complete the determination;
(2) Adding language to section 431M-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, allowing certified substance abuse counselors and other mental health professionals to perform and submit claims for substance abuse assessments for children who have violated a school's zero tolerance policy;
(3) Providing for the destruction of records of substance abuse assessment upon the child's graduation from high school; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3273, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3273, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
|
____________________________ DWIGHT TAKAMINE, Chair |
||