STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1690

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 149
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 149, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY FOR A
     COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW TO ASSESS SERVICES FOR DEAF, HARD OF
     HEARING, AND DEAF-BLIND POPULATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to request a
study for a comprehensive review to assess services for deaf,
hard of hearing, and deaf-blind populations.

     Services for an estimated 72,000 persons with hearing loss
in Hawaii are fragmented and uncoordinated, making it difficult
for them to receive all available services in the most efficient
and cost effective manner.  Deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind
persons receive inadequate or unacceptable levels of public and
private services.  This adversely affects lives, their work,
families, and social activities, resulting in an overall
reduction in their quality of life.  This Concurrent Resolution
requests the Commission on Persons with Disabilities to conduct a
comprehensive review to assess services for deaf, hard of
hearing, and deaf-blind persons.

     This Concurrent Resolution requests the Commission on
Persons with Disabilities, with the assistance of the Legislative
Reference Bureau, to conduct a two-year comprehensive review to

 
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assess services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind
persons.

     The Commission on Persons with Disabilities is requested to:

     (1)  Review the range of services to the target population
          currently available in the public and private sectors
          in Hawaii;

     (2)  Identify those federal and state laws that mandate
          services to the target population, and assess the level
          of compliance with those laws;

     (3)  Determine the current adequacy and gaps in the
          provision of mandated services to the target
          population; and

     (4)  Make recommendations on the establishment of an
          administrative structure to provide and monitor
          appropriate and effective services to the target
          population.

     The study is further requested to review:

     (1)  Communication access;

     (2)  Education;

     (3)  Early intervention programs;

     (4)  Post-secondary education;

     (5)  Social services;

     (6)  Employment;

     (7)  Independent living;

     (8)  Telecommunications;

     (9)  Mental health;

    (10)  Recreation including tourism;

    (11)  Emergency notification including civil defense; and


 
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    (12)  Professional development and standards for those
          persons who serve the target population.

     The Commission on Persons with Disabilities is also
requested to convene a task force to provide input for the study,
including representatives from the following organizations and
groups:

     (1)  Aloha Association for the Deaf;

     (2)  Hawaii Services on Deafness;

     (3)  Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness;

     (4)  Coordinating Council on Persons Who Are Deaf-Blind in
          Hawaii;

     (5)  Ohana Kuli Ano Kokua chapter of the national Self-Help
          for the Hard of Hearing People;

     (6)  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee to
          Vocational Rehabilitation Services;

     (7)  Advisory Council for Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the
          Blind;

     (8)  Gallaudet University Regional Center;

     (9)  Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training
          Center;

    (10)  One consumer representative from each county;

    (11)  One representative who is a member of the target
          population;

    (12)  One representative who is a family member of a person
          who is member of the target population;

    (13)  One representative who has an interest in the target
          population community;

    (14)  Hawaii Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf;

    (15)  Kapiolani Community College Interpreter Education
          Program; and


 
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    (16)  Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation
          and Services for the Blind Division.

     This Concurrent Resolution further requests the Commission
on Persons with Disabilities to submit, with the assistance of
the Legislative Reference Bureau, an interim report to the
Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of
the Regular Session of 2000, and a final report no later than
twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of
2001.

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this
Concurrent Resolution to clarify that the role of the Legislative
Reference Bureau is to assist the Commission on Persons with
Disabilities in drafting any proposed legislation that may be
recommended by the Commission as a result of its study.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 149,
S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the
form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 149, S.D. 2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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