STAND. COM. REP. 927

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1321

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1321 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide for mental health parity by:

(1) Expanding the definition of "serious mental illness"; and

(2) Making mental health parity permanent by repealing the June 30, 2003, sunset date in Act 243, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000.

The Governor, Department of Health, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Blueprint for Change, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, National Association of Social Workers, Mental Health Association in Hawaii, Hawaii Psychological Association, NAMI OAHU, Equal Insurance Coalition, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Nurses' Association, and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill. The Hawaii Disability Rights Center supported this measure with amendments. The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, HMAA, and the Hawaii Medical Service Association opposed the bill. Kaiser Permanente submitted comments.

 

Your Committee finds that serious mental illnesses, such as delusional disorder, bipolar, and major depression, are serious health concerns in Hawaii. Achieving mental health parity will help individuals receive treatment in a timely manner and at an affordable cost as well as help to improve the social climate in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date of the expanded definition of "serious mental illness" to July 1, 2004; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1321, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1321, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

 

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair