STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2241

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2008

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2008 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SERVICE AREA BOARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend statutory provisions relating to quorum and voting requirements for service area boards on mental health and substance abuse.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and State Council on Mental Health.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

     Your Committee finds that based on the attendance of service area boards on mental health and substance abuse in fiscal year 2015, many of the boards were unable to meet due to a lack of quorum, resulting in only two of the four boards holding official meetings.  Redefining quorum for service area boards on mental health and substance abuse will allow the boards to deliberate and make decisions on issues affecting each county.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that service area boards shall be established within the Department of Health for administrative purposes; and

     (2)  Inserting a reference to part I of chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as an exception to the general rule that an affirmative vote of a majority of members present is sufficient for a service area board to act.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2008, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2008, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair