STAND. COM. REP. NO. 874

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1036

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1036 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CLINICAL VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require health insurers and like entities, including the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, to include clinical victim support services as part of their mental illness, alcohol, and drug dependence benefits.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, AAUW of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that requiring certain coverage for clinical victim support services will prevent additional trauma to the victims and more costly interventions over the short and long term.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making a technical correction to the listing of cross-referenced sections in the measure regarding health benefit plans of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of 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. 1036, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1036, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair