STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1008-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2744

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2744, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for:

(1) An Oral Health Task Force to review information and data on the status of oral health in the State and make recommendations to improve the State's oral health infrastructure; and

(2) One permanent full-time equivalent program specialist V position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Hawaii Dental Service; AlohaCare; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Papa Ola Lokahi; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; University of Hawaii at Mānoa Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing; University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine; Office of Information Practices; Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; and Hawaii Dental Association.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of program specialist V positions to an unspecified number; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 H.B. No. 2744, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2744, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair