STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2185

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 1494

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1494, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group within the Department of Health to evaluate current behavioral health care and related systems and identify steps to promote effective integration to more effectively respond to and coordinate care for persons experiencing substance abuse, mental health conditions, and homelessness.

The Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, ‘Ohana Health Plan, Hawaii Medical Service Association, The Institute for Human Services, and the Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force testified in support of this measure. The Office of Information Practices provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its purpose section; and

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

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 S.B. No. 1494, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1494, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair