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. 2461 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Health to provide case management services for the developmentally disabled population using only private sector providers.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Opportunities for the Retarded, Research Center of Hawaii Special Needs Network, and Brantley Center, Inc. Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Health (DOH), Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities, HGEA-AFSCME, and a private citizen.

Your Committee finds that persons with developmental disabilities often require lifelong support services to successfully access available opportunities. Adequate, consistent, and continuous case management services over the lifetime of the recipient helps to ensure that services are adequate, proper, and of quality. Independent private providers would help in meeting these goals by ensuring minimum conflict of interest between the service provider agency and the client so that services are not compromised.

Your Committee heard testimony of anectodal incidences in which current case managers who are employees of the State, rarely visit the day programs and know very little about the clients whom they serve.

Your Committee is cognizant of the DOH's efforts and compliments the DOH in making significant progress in developing a comprehensive system of supports and services to persons with developmental disabilities and mental retardation. The DOH admits in its testimony that success can come only with accountability as measured by strict standards regarding conflict of interest. Your Committee believes that it would be easier to avoid a conflict if case management services are provided by private sector service providers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that the private sector providers hire independent social workers.

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. 2461, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2461, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.