STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1029

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 526

S.D. 2

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. 526, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to purchase, staff, and operate two mobile clinics to serve homeless people.

The measure also requires the Department of Human Services to obtain matching funds and allocates one mobile clinic to the County of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Psychological Association, and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness.

Your Committee finds that, without access to routine health care, many homeless individuals seek treatment at hospital emergency rooms for a variety of physical and mental conditions. These visits cost the State's hospitals millions of dollars annually in uncompensated billing. Your Committee recognizes that other states that use mobile clinics have seen significant cost savings when compared to emergency room visits. One estimate found that every dollar spent on mobile clinics saved twelve dollars in other health care costs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from an unspecified amount to $400,000 for each fiscal year in the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium;

(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. 526, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 526, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair