Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 174 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Health (DOH) to maintain the Crisis Shelter and crisis team on the grounds of the Old Waimano Home indefinitely.

The Research Center of Hawaii, Kokua Mau Work Center, and concerned citizens submitted testimony in support of this measure.

The Department of Health (DOH) supported the intent of this measure. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Disability and Communications Access Board (DCAB) opposed this measure.

Your Committee understands that the Crisis Shelter at Waimano serves a useful purpose and helps with the transition of clients from an institutional setting into the community. Your Committee finds that it would be difficult to place some of these clients in the community without the support services provided by the Crisis Shelter.

Some of the testifiers in opposition stated that support needs to be in place to address crisis situations regardless of whether the State or private sector provides the services, and regardless of the location. The primary concern of these testifiers is that the facility remains open until a viable alternative program is found. DOH assured your Committee that the Crisis Shelter will not be closed until an appropriate provider is operational and capable of providing outreach services.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 174, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 174.