Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3275, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to cover the cost of substance abuse assessments for uninsured students who violated the Department of Education's "zero tolerance" policy on alcohol and other drugs.

Your Committee finds that publicly-funded assessment services are needed for students who lack the necessary financial resources to obtain them, or who are uninsured. Otherwise, these students will not be allowed to return to school earlier than the Department of Education's original disciplinary determination.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount for the purpose of promoting continued discussion of the matter. Your Committee has also made technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3275, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3275, S.D. 2.