STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1030

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1008

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1008, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure that all of Hawaii's children receive appropriate health care by:

(1)  Establishing the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program providing coverage to uninsured children between 31 days to 18 years of age;

(2)  Providing free medical care to children 19 years of age or younger whose family income is at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level;

(3)  Allowing children 19 years of age or younger whose family income is at or between 250 and 350 percent of the federal poverty level to receive free QUEST-Net benefits; and

(4)  Establishing the Hawaii Infant Care Special Fund and using it to provide up to $10,000 of health care for each uninsured newborn between one and 31 days-of-age, and through a matching-funds partnership between the Department of Human Services (DHS) and private health care providers, also providing care exceeding that limit.

     Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  DHS supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance opposed this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Allowing children who become ineligible for QUEST due to increased family income to enroll in the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program;

(2)  Removing the caps on enrollment in the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program;

(3)  Clarifying that DHS will administer the Hawaii Infant Care Special Fund and may contract with an appropriate entity to provide services;

(4)  Removing references to specific appropriation amounts;

(5)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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 H.B. No. 1008, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1008, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair