REPORT TITLE:
Deaf and Blind Persons


DESCRIPTION:
Creates a blue ribbon panel to conduct a study of state services
and programs relating to deaf and blind persons. (SD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        865
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE DEAF AND BLIND. 


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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there are an
 
 2 estimated seventy-two thousand persons in Hawaii who are deaf,
 
 3 hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who are receiving inadequate or
 
 4 unacceptable levels of public services.  Many of these services
 
 5 are mandated by federal and state laws.  The legislature further
 
 6 finds that a comprehensive study should be undertaken to identify
 
 7 the required services, assess the State's compliance with federal
 
 8 and state mandates relating to those services, and make
 
 9 recommendations for the establishment of an administrative
 
10 structure to provide appropriate and effective services to the
 
11 target population.
 
12      The purpose of this Act is to establish a governor's blue
 
13 ribbon panel to improve services to the deaf, hard of hearing,
 
14 and deaf-blind.
 
15      SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a governor's blue
 
16 ribbon panel on services to the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-
 
17 blind (target population) to be placed under the department of
 
18 human resources for administrative purposes.  The panel shall be
 
19 appointed by the governor and shall include statewide volunteer
 

 
Page 2                                                     865
                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 representation.  The panel shall include one volunteer
 
 2 representative from each of the following consumer organizations:
 
 3      (1)  Aloha State Association of the Deaf;
 
 4      (2)  Hawaii Services on Deafness;
 
 5      (3)  Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness;
 
 6      (4)  Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deaf-Blindness;
 
 7      (5)  Ohana Kuli Ano Kokua;
 
 8      (6)  Vocational Rehabilitation Services Deaf Advisory
 
 9           Committee; and
 
10      (7)  Cochlear Implant Association.
 
11      (b)  The panel shall further include one representative from
 
12 each of the following educational and professional organizations:
 
13      (1)  Gallaudet University Regional Center;
 
14      (2)  Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Blind;
 
15      (3)  Kapiolani Community College's American Sign
 
16           Language/Interpreter Training Program; and
 
17      (4)  Hawaii Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
 
18      (c)  The panel shall further include one parent of a deaf,
 
19 hard of hearing, or deaf-blind child.
 
20      (d)  The panel may further include consumers and other
 
21 representatives with an interest in the deaf, hard of hearing,
 
22 and deaf-blind communities.
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     865
                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 3.  (a)  The blue ribbon panel shall conduct a study
 
 2 to:
 
 3      (1)  Identify existing public and private services currently
 
 4           available to the target population;
 
 5      (2)  Identify federal and state laws mandating services;
 
 6      (3)  Assess the level of compliance with laws; and
 
 7      (4)  Make recommendations on the establishment of an
 
 8           administrative structure to provide appropriate and
 
 9           effective services to the target population.
 
10      (b)  The blue ribbon panel shall also review the following
 
11 programs and services that relate to the target population for
 
12 adequacy and to recommend improvement:
 
13      (1)  Communication access;
 
14      (2)  Professional development and standards;
 
15      (3)  Education, including early intervention programs;
 
16      (4)  Post-secondary education;
 
17      (5)  Social services;
 
18      (6)  Employment;
 
19      (7)  Independent living;
 
20      (8)  Telecommunications;
 
21      (9)  Mental health;
 
22     (10)  Recreation, including tourism; and
 
23     (11)  Public safety.
 

 
Page 4                                                     865
                                     S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 4.  The blue ribbon panel established by section 2
 
 2 of this Act shall report on its progress to the legislature and
 
 3 the governor no later than twenty days before the convening of
 
 4 the regular session of 2000, and its final report on findings and
 
 5 recommendations no later than twenty days before the convening of
 
 6 the regular session of 2001.  The panel shall cease to exist
 
 7 after the filing of its report.
 
 8      SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 9 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $75,000, or so much
 
10 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, for travel
 
11 expenses for members of the blue ribbon panel on the deaf, hard
 
12 of hearing, and deaf-blind to attend meetings, for expenses for
 
13 auxiliary hearing aids and services such as interpreters, real-
 
14 time captioners, computer assisted notetakers, etc., and for
 
15 hiring staff for the purposes of this Act.
 
16      SECTION 6.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
17 department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
 
18      SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
 
19 provided that section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 1999.