STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2456

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2103

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2103, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FEDERAL DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE HOSPITAL FUNDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to extend the appropriation of state matching funds for the federal disproportionate share hospital allowance by making state matching funds appropriated for the 2009-2010 fiscal year by Act 23, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, available for fiscal biennium 2009-2011.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Queen's Medical Center.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will extend the appropriation of state matching funds authorized by Act 23, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, and preserve the availability of federal Medicaid disproportionate share hospital funds through the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion on the measure; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 2103, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2103, S.D. 2.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair