STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1173

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 223

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 223, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support Hawaii's health care safety net by establishing the Health Care Reinvestment Fund (Reinvestment Fund) and Health Insurance Support Special Fund (Support Fund) to be used for certain health care facilities, funds, programs, and services.

     The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health opposed this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 223, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 223, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair