STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1448

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1120

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1120, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure access to dental health care by Hawaii's underserved population.  

     More specifically, this measure appropriates funds to establish or expand community-based dental health clinics operated by federally-qualified health care centers to serve this underserved population, which includes low-income persons, the uninsured, those living in rural areas who are less likely to have access to dental care, and others who are at higher risk for poor oral health.  This measure will also increase the capacity of community health care centers to train dental health personnel.

     Comments in support of this measure were submitted by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability and Communications Access Board, the Community Clinic of Maui, the Bay Clinic, Inc., the Hamakua Health Center, the Ho'ola Lahui, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, the Kalihi-Palama Health Center, the Lutheran Medical Center, the Molokai Ohana Health Care, Inc., the Waikiki Health Center, and the West Hawaii Community Health Center, Inc.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has one of the worst rates of dental and oral diseases in the nation, with children in Hawaii between the ages of five to nine having tooth decay at more than double the national rate.  Your Committee also finds that community health centers, particularly in rural areas, are a natural point of access for Hawaii's underserved to receive dental health care.  This measure will increase the availability of dental care statewide for a population that is currently underserved.

     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 H.B. No. 1120, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair