Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2142 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for respite care services for families of individuals with special needs.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Early Intervention Coordination Council, The Arc in Hawaii, Hawaii Respite Coalition, Easter Seals, and ten private citizens.

Your Committee finds that due to additional care required by individuals with special needs, families often identify respite care as a basic need. Respite care provides temporary relief for families and caregivers. It allows a family to engage in daily activities and thus decrease their feelings of isolation and improves the family's ability to cope with daily responsibilities. Your Committee further finds that the Respite Program is one of few programs in which the majority of its budget goes directly to servicing families.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2142 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.