STAND. COM. REP. NO. 755

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 126

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 126, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish a Medicaid buy-in program for working people with disabilities; and

     (2)  Make an appropriation for the employment training and placement program as the State's share of funding to be matched by federal funds made available for a Hawaii Medicaid buy-in program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Ronnie Perry.

     Your Committee finds that working-age adults with disabilities have limited options for health insurance coverage.  This measure will allow working adults with disabilities who do not have health insurance through their employers, or who earn more than the allowable ceiling, to obtain Medicaid coverage.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the maximum amounts of non-exempt sources an individual or couple may have to qualify for the buy-in program to unspecified sums;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation for the employment training and placement program to an unspecified amount;

     (3)  Clarifying that funds shall be provided to the University of Hawaii each fiscal year for administration and setup under the direction of the Department of Human Services;

     (4)  Changing the amount that is to be provided to the University of Hawaii each fiscal year to an unspecified amount;

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

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, 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. 126, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 126, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair