THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1139
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to community health centers.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that community health centers are one of Hawaii's most important health care assets, and they have become even more essential to health care delivery in the State during the current hard economic times.  In 2008, community health centers across the State met the critical care needs for almost one hundred twenty thousand people while saving more than $128,000,000 in health care costs.  That year, community health centers provided care for about one-third of all uninsured persons in Hawaii and were the health care providers for nearly one in four Med-QUEST patients.

     The legislature further finds that community health centers fill health care provider gaps in rural areas of the State by providing medical care where there are shortages of physicians.  In addition, some community health centers provide dental care for children insured by medicaid in areas of the State where they may not have access to dental service.  In the face of significant cuts to state mental health programs, community health centers also serve as a safety net for persons with mental health care needs.

     The legislature finds that Act 316, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, increased the state taxes on cigarettes, and allocated a portion of the increased tax revenue to community health centers in Hawaii.  The amount of cigarette tax revenue collected in fiscal year 2008-2009 for the benefit of community health centers was estimated to be $9,000,000, an average of less than $600,000 per community health center.  The administration and the department of health did not release those revenues for use by community health centers in the State.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds from the community health centers special fund for use by community health centers and to direct the state administration and the department of health to release the revenues in the community health centers special fund for operating community health centers.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the community health centers special fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 for the purposes of funding operations of community health centers in Hawaii.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  The governor shall release $           from the community health centers special fund, including all of the moneys deposited into the special fund from revenue generated by the cigarette tax, pursuant to section 245-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to be expended by the department of health to operate community health centers that provide health services to eligible low-income and underserved populations throughout the State.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Community Health Centers

 

Description:

Appropriates moneys from the community health centers special fund to be used by community health centers in the State.  Directs the administration and the department of health to release funds to the community health centers.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.