STAND. COM. REP. NO. 914

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1115

       S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1115, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERINATAL CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to promote improved perinatal care.

     The bill accomplishes this by continuing the funding appropriated last year for a pilot perinatal clinic in the community and case management in collaboration with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns Medical School to help women with a history of substance abuse.

     The Department of Human Services and the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that providing perinatal care to pregnant women with a history of substance abuse is vital to ensure the health of the child and the mother.  Your Committee further finds that this measure would provide much needed resources for a critical public health program.  Your Committee further recognizes the offer by the Department of Human Services to coordinate with the medical school and assist in obtaining matching federal funds for this program.

     After careful consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the sum appropriated to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion on this measure.

     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. 1115, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1115, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair