STAND. COM. REP. NO.  983-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2349

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address a statewide community concern and support individuals facing substance abuse and mental health issues by:

(1)  Establishing a statewide pilot program to provide comprehensive treatment services to chronic, substance-dependent adults; and

(2)  Appropriating funds for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 for the pilot program.

The Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Community Alliance on Prisons, Community Alliance for Mental Health, and United Self Help supported this measure.  The Department of Health commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to facilitate further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully notes that, depending on its scope, it will cost from $200,000 to $500,000 to successfully initiate the pilot program.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair