STAND. COM. REP. NO.  319

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1377

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1377 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate emergency funding to increase the expenditure ceiling of the Health Systems Special Fund (Special Fund) necessary to cover increasing expenses relating to the ongoing operation, services, and activities of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC).

     Pursuant to the requirements set forth in Article VII, Section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution, the Governor, in her Governor's Message No. 238 to the Legislature, requested immediate consideration and passage of this bill by the Legislature citing an existing critical funding shortage.

     This bill appropriates $41,000,000 for fiscal year 2006-2007 from the Special Fund to be used to:

     (1)  Sustain the ongoing operation and services at various state hospitals; and

     (2)  Provide critical access care, medical and surgical services, and specialty care.

The appropriation is to be expended by HHSC.

     HHSC supported this bill.  People United to Support a Second Hospital submitted commented on this measure.

     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. 1377 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair