Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3273, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow certified substance abuse counselors to provide assessments under the Department of Education's zero tolerance policy.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hina Mauka, the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and one individual. Comments in support of the intent of this measure were received from the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA). Comments supporting a change involving a screening tool to determine any further need for substance abuse assessment were received from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the measure should be further amended using HMSA's suggested changes to allow facilities that provide substance abuse services to be reimbursed for assessments performed in schools by the Certified Substance Abuse Counselors they employ.

Your Committee has amended this measure by incorporating the changes submitted by HMSA, and by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3273, S.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.