STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1156

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1120

      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. 1120, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the State's ability to address the current dental health care crisis by appropriating funds to the Department of Health to establish or expand community-based dental health clinics operated by federally-qualified health centers to provide a continuum of dental care to QUEST-eligible adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.

     The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Kokua Council, Molokai Ohana Health Care, Inc., Waikiki Health Center, Hamakua Health Center, Inc., Kalihi-Palama Health Center, West Hawaii Community Health Center, Inc., Community Clinic of Maui, Hoola Lahui Hawaii, Bay Clinic, Inc. Community Health Center, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health supported the intent of this measure. 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

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

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     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. 1120, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1120, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair