STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1598

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 617

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 617, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ORAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an oral health task force to help improve oral health in the State.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes an oral health task force to, among other things, review certain information and data relating to oral health and make recommendations to state and county policymakers;

(2) Requires the oral health task force to submit reports to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriates moneys for the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health to oversee a contract to hire a consultant to facilitate the work of the oral health task force.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, AlohaCare, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Public Health Institute's Hawaii Oral Health Coalition, Papa Ola Lokahi, Waimanalo Health Center, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii, and Hawaii Dental Association.

Your Committee finds that establishing an oral health task force will be vital for identifying the elements and resources needed to rebuild the Department of Health's public health dental program, improve overall oral health in the State, and reduce inequalities in oral health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the oral health task force is to be placed within the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health for administrative purposes;

(2) Including as invited members of the oral health task force one dentist from each county;

(3) Authorizing the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health to contract for the services of a consultant to facilitate the work of the oral health task force;

(4) Changing the effective date of the appropriations to July 1, 2051, and the effective date of the remaining provisions of this measure to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(5) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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 H.B. No. 617, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 617, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair