STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1172

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1370

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1370, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE ADULT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that adult mental health consumers are provided continuous services by making an emergency appropriation to the Department of Health for its Adult Mental Health Division.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the number of adult mental health consumers that are eligible to receive services through the Department of Health have significantly increased.  This increase is a result of United States v. State of Hawaii, et al. Civil Number 91-00137, a federal law suit that expanded the use of available services throughout the islands.  Your Committee further finds that this emergency appropriation is necessary to ensure the availability of continuous adult mental health services in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1370, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair