STAND. COM. REP. NO.  733

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1236

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1236, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities by:

(1)  Establishing a Medicaid Buy-in Program with the Department of Human Services for workers with disabilities that affords them expanded access to Medicaid;

(2)  Establishing, and appropriating funds for, a Medicaid Buy-in Pilot Program with the Department of Health for workers with disabilities to support the employment of individuals with disabilities by expanding access to Medicaid; and

(3)  Appropriating funds for the University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies to prepare and conduct outreach and training related to the Medicaid Buy-in Program.

The Hawaii Primary Care Association and Ohana Health Plan provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Easter Seals Hawaii, and Lanakila Pacific 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 H.B. No. 1236, 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