THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2490
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that community health centers are one of Hawaii's most important health care assets, and they have become even more essential to health care delivery in the state during the current hard economic times.  In 2008, community health centers across the state met the critical care needs for almost one hundred twenty thousand people while saving more than $128,000,000 in health care costs.  That year, community health centers provided care for about one-third of all uninsured persons in Hawaii, and were the health care providers for nearly one in four Med-QUEST patients.

     The legislature further finds that community health centers fill health care provider gaps in rural areas of the state by providing medical care where there are not enough physicians and dental care where children with medicaid coverage cannot receive dental service.  In the face of significant cuts to state mental health programs, community health centers also serve as a safety net for mental health care needs.

     The legislature finds that Act 316, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, increased the state taxes on cigarettes, and allocated a portion of the increased tax revenue to community health centers in Hawaii.  The administration and the department of health have not released the revenues collected for use by community health centers in the state.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds from the community health centers special fund for use by community health centers and to direct the state administration and the department of health to release the revenues in the community health centers special fund for use in fiscal year 2010-2011.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the community health centers special fund the sum of $15,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for the purposes of funding operations of community health centers in Hawaii; provided that no other funding appropriated for expenditure by the department of health shall be released by the governor prior to the release of the funds appropriated by this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Community Health Centers

Description:

Appropriates moneys from the Community Health Centers Special Fund to be used by community health centers in the state.  Requires the Governor to release funds for the operation of community centers before the release of any other appropriated funds to the Department of Health.  Effective July 1, 2050.  (SB2490 HD1)

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