STAND. COM. REP. 2003

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2385

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2385 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate additional funds for the Hawaii Seropositivity and Medical Management Program (HSPAMM), and the HIV Drug Assistance Program (HDAP).

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Governor's Committee on HIV/AIDS, the Department of Health, Hawaii CARES, Life Foundation, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that the HSPAMM and HDAP programs provide life-saving medications and regular medical tests to hundreds of people with HIV/AIDS in Hawaii. However, while the cost of AIDS drugs has risen in recent years, and the numbers needing treatment have grown, the State has not increased its support for these vital programs. Without additional funding, people in Hawaii living with HIV/AIDS may be forced onto waiting lists for drugs. Additional funding will prevent a wait list, provide more clients with services, and potentially provide more drugs.

Your Committee expresses its concern that the Department of Health, after the Legislature during the special session 2003 had authorized funding for HIV/AIDS programs on Maui, did not request disbursement of the funds, which were available.

Your Committee was advised that the Department anticipates receipt of additional federal funds for HIV/AIDS from the Ryan White CARE Act. Your Committee recommends that the Senate Committee on Ways and Means raise the budget ceiling to allow for this increase. However, the modest increase in federal funding does not begin to address the funding needs of the HSPAMM and HDAP programs. Additionally, your Committee finds that the State is operating below national public health standards with regards to HIV/AIDS treatment. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure to reflect an increase in funding beyond what was presented in the original measure.

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. 2385, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2385, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair