STAND. COM. REP. NO.  66-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2556

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2556 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to combat substance abuse and to help people recovering from substance abuse by appropriating funds to:

     (1)  Increase substance abuse services for youth and adolescents; and

     (2)  Establish additional therapeutic living programs.

     The Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health provided comments.

     Your Committees note that DOH's Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) estimates that $2,116,062 will be required in each fiscal year to implement the programs proposed in this bill and that an additional 43 beds and 130 clients would be served by therapeutic living programs.  ADAD also estimates that an additional $72,000 would be necessary to cover additional staffing and operating costs.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2556 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health,

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair