STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2511

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2040
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B.
No. 2040, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds, to serve
as the State's share of matching federal medicaid funds, for
individuals with disabilities who are eligible for the medicaid
home and community-based services program.

     Your Committee finds that there are currently eight hundred
individuals with developmental disabilities who may be eligible
for the home and community-based services waiver program, which
was implemented in 1983 by the Departments of Health and Human
Services.  While the program now serves approximately nine
hundred and seventy individuals, there are over seven hundred
individuals on a wait list who need services and support to
enable them to live in the community.

     Your Committee finds that the appropriation made by this
bill represents an efficient use of state dollars by matching
federal Title XIX medicaid funds, and further finds that the bill
will greatly assist these individuals with developmental
disabilities, who require life long support and services, by
allowing them to be independent, productive, integrated, and
included in the community.

 
a                                                      SB2040 SD1
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2511
                                   Page 2


     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2040, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
a                                                      SB2040 SD1