STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2631

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3001

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3001 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AUTISM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to increase the funding for applied behavioral analysis services for persons with autism; and

(2) Require the Department of Human Services to obtain maximum federal matching funds and pursue all other funding sources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board; BAYADA; Hawaiʻi Association for Behavior Analysis; Behavioral and Therapeutic Services of Hawaii; Behavior Analysis No Ka Oi, Inc.; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; Hawaiʻi Early Intervention Coordinating Council; Mau Loa Learning, LLC; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Horizons Academy of Maui; Maui Learning Academy; Autism Behavior Consulting Group Hawaii; and fifty-eight individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and one individual.

Your Committee finds the applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is a medically necessary service for young people with autism, which can decrease the cost of care for persons with autism over their lifetimes. Your Committee further finds that the Med-QUEST reimbursement rates for applied behavioral analysis have remained unchanged since 2015. Med-QUEST beneficiaries must compete for applied behavioral analysis services with the private sector and other government programs, often offering higher reimbursement rates. This measure increases funding for the Department of Human Services' Med-QUEST Division to better serve children with autism and their families.

Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of Human Services reflecting the results of its commissioned rate study for ABA services, which includes low, medium, and high rate scenarios for consideration. The low scenario would require $6.5 million ($2.69 million state funds and $3.81 million federal), the medium scenario would require $7.8 million ($3.23 million state funds and $4.57 million federal), and the high scenario would require $9.4 million ($3.9 million state and $5.5 million federal). The Department of Human Services further requests that alternatively, any appropriation be included in the executive budget bill so that the appropriation can be recurring and the increase ongoing. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that these matters be considered further.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3001, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3001, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair