STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1322

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 242

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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 242, 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 assist persons who have been diagnosed with Autism or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to participate in their communities by requiring the State's Medicaid program to provide coverage for home and community-based services.

For purposes of a public hearing on this measure, your Committee circulated a proposed S.B. No. 242, H.D. 1 (Proposed Draft) and notified the public that it would be accepting testimony on this proposal amending the measure by adding a task force to study issues relating to access to essential services for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Your Committee received testimony on S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2 as it was originally received by your Committee as follows: The Hawai‘i Psychological Association, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and several individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health provided comments.

Your Committee received testimony on the Proposed Draft as follows: The Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and two individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Autism Society of Hawaii provided comments.

After careful consideration, your Committee adopted the Proposed Draft and further amended the measure by:

(1) Including 4 parent-advocate members to the task force, with 2 parent-advocates to be designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 2 parent-advocates to be designated by the President of the Senate;

(2) Requiring the Department of Health to revert to prior client evaluation metrics until all service providers and recipients are educated on the new evaluation metrics, or January 1, 2021, whichever occurs first; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 242, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair