STAND. COM. REP. NO. 123

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 174
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to
which was referred H.B. No. 174 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE
     CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for the
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

     The Hawaii State Primary Care Association, the Hawaii
Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Na Loio
submitted testimony supporting the bill.  The Department of Human
Services testified in support of the bill's intent.  The
Department of Health supported the intent of the bill, as long as
it does not replace the priorities established in the Executive
Budget.

     Your Committees find that CHIP is a critical program
allowing Hawaii an opportunity to expand health care coverage to
low-income children.  Your Committees recognize that additional
measures are under consideration to fund CHIP from other sources,
for example, the Tobacco Settlement Fund.  Your Committees,
however, express their commitment to fund CHIP, even if the
source of funding must come from the general fund.


 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 123
                                 Page 2

 
     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are
attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the
intent and purpose of H.B. No. 174 and recommend that it pass
Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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




_____________________________      _______________________________
ALEXANDER SANTIAGO, Chair          DENNIS ARAKAKI, Chair