STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1577

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 668

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 668, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure, to be known and cited as "Luke's Law", is to ensure the provision of quality health care for all Hawaii residents by requiring health plans to provide coverage for treatment for autism spectrum disorders for persons under the age of twenty-one.

Trumpet of Behavioral Health Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Autism Foundation, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Papa Ola Lokahi, Special Education Advisory Council, UNITE HERE Local 5, and numerous individuals testified in support.  The Department of Human Services, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans testified in opposition.  The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Community Children's Councils, Autism Speaks, Kaiser Permanente, American Council of Life Insurers, and many individuals provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 668, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair