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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

667

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR EARLY INTERVENTION

SERVICES.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with acticle VII, section 9, of constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. In accordance with Sections 37-92(b) and

37-92(h) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the governor has determined that the appropriations contained in this Act will cause the general fund appropriation ceiling of the executive branch to be exceeded in fiscal year 2000-2001 by $7,217,390 or .22 percent. The reason for exceeding the executive general fund appropriation ceiling is to ensure that the public interest is served, and to meet the needs provided for by this Act.

SECTION 3. Although funds were appropriated to the department of health for family health services division for the period beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2001, a critical need for further funding exists based on a August 3, 2000, federal court stipulation between the State of Hawaii and the plaintiff class relating to the Felix v. Cayetano consent decree. Pursuant to this revised consent decree in Felix v. Cayetano, Civil No. 93-00367, the department of health must insure universal screening and assessment for all newborns, with home visitation for environmentally at risk infants and children by the healthy start program, and for biologically at risk and developmentally delayed infants and children by the early intervention section, from birth to three years of age, as mandated by P.L. 105-17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, part C; must assure that no eligible child will remain without specified services or appropriate alternatives for more than 30 days and the early intervention section ordered by the federal court must demonstrate improvement in the delivery of services for children under three years of age with autism. Because of the expanded coverage of services and the additional services required by the revised consent decree, existing funds will be expended before the end of this fiscal year.

The purpose of this Act is to increase the authorized appropriation for early intervention services for the early intervention section and the healthy start program of the department of health for fiscal year 2000-2001 in order to maintain compliance with the revised consent decree in Civil No. 93-00367, filed August 3, 2000.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,883,240 for the early intervention section and $5,334,150 for the healthy start program, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2000-2001, to be used to provide early intervention services for infants and children from birth to three years of age.

SECTION 5. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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