STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2750
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2525
S.D. 2
Honorable Donna Mercado Kim
President of the Senate
Twenty-Seventh State Legislature
Regular Session of 2014
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2525, 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 establish a Medicaid buy-in program, no later than July 1, 2017, to support the employment of individuals with disabilities while allowing them to retain their Medicaid benefits.
In addition, the measure appropriates $165,000 for fiscal year 2014-2015 to the University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies to prepare and conduct outreach and training relating to the Medicaid buy-in program.
Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Rehabilitative Council; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Community Alliance for Mental Health; Arc of Kona; and two individuals. Written comments were submitted by the Department of Human Services.
Your Committee finds that Hawaii is one of only five states that has not established a Medicaid buy-in program for persons with disabilities. Your Committee further finds that many Medicaid recipients find it difficult to increase their income without disqualifying themselves from Medicaid. Establishing a Medicaid buy-in program will remove disincentives for Medicaid recipients to increase their income while allowing them to pay taxes, draw less benefits overall, and provide a cost savings to the State.
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 encourage further discussion on the measure; and
(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 2525, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2525, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair |
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