STAND. COM. REP. NO. 915

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 970

       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. 970, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to improve health care in this State.

Specifically, this bill appropriates funds to the Department of Health to enable the Hawaii Primary Care Association to establish or expand community-based dental health clinics operated by federally-qualified health centers for the benefit of QUEST-eligible adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.

     Your Committee received comments in support of the measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Kokua Council, the Waikiki Health Center, the Kalihi-Palama Health Center, the Molokai Community Health Center, the Hamakua Health Center, the Lutheran Medical Center, the executive director and board members of the West Hawaii Community Center, the Community Clinic of Maui, the Bay Clinic, Inc., and the Hawaii Primary Care Association.

     Your Committee finds that federally-qualified health centers have the capability to serve the populations targeted by this measure.  The centers are located in various communities, have minimal administrative costs, less bureaucratic protocols, and have access to dental care personnel under the community service licensure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the appropriation is being made to the Department of Health to establish or expand community-based dental health clinics operated by federally-qualified health centers.  Your Committee also made a technical nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of clarity and style.

     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. 970, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 970, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair