Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1862 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Hawaii Respite Services Trust Fund (Trust Fund) and advisory board to provide a dedicated source of funding to provide grants to caregivers for respite services.

More specifically, this bill provides that:

The Arc in Hawaii, Blueprint for Change, Child and Family Service, the Hawaii Respite Coalition, and several family members of disabled individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health and the State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees find that respite care provides temporary relief for families and caregivers, allowing a family to engage in daily activities and decrease their feelings of isolation. The establishment of the Trust Fund would provide a mechanism for a reliable source of funding for caregivers to access in their time of need.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1862 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.