STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1091-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2790

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2790, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount of funds for the Perinatal Addiction Treatment of Hawaii Clinic within the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii.

The measure also repeals the sunset date for the clinic, making it a permanent program.

     The Department of Human Services, University of Hawaii System, Perinatal Addiction Treatment of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     The Perinatal Addiction Treatment of Hawaii Clinic provides comprehensive prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care to women on Oahu who have a history of substance abuse.  Other services include substance abuse counseling, pediatric and psychiatric care, and case management.  The clinic's approach is to provide appropriate health care in a supportive, rather than punitive, environment.  Since it opened in April 2007, the clinic has served over sixty‑five women.  In addition to its current services, the clinic is planning to hire a therapeutic child care provider to teach parenting skills to the women, and is seeking a pediatrician to provide primary care for the infants.

     Your Committees find that this measure will further healthy family relationships and help prevent low‑birth weight and premature births.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2790, S.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair

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