STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1295

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 989

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to extend the Hawaii Children's Health Care Program to June 30, 2012.

     The measure also requires that the Department of Human Services and any participating managed care plan report to the Legislature prior to the 2010 and 2011 Regular Sessions on the program, and also including any proposals for funding sources other than the State.

     Your Committee received two written comments on this measure.  Written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that the purpose of Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, was to offer health insurance to children who fall into a gap group of the uninsured.  Your Committee further finds that the Department of Human Services ended its participation in the program in October 2008.  Your Committee believes that this program protects the health of uninsured children by providing vital coverage for medical expenses and doctor visits.  In order to sustain the program, your Committee finds that further discussion on this measure is necessary.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding the reference to Act 239, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, in section 1 of the bill;

     (2)  Changing the amount of the appropriation to $1; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050 to facilitate further discussion.

     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 H.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 989, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair