Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 7, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Judiciary to convene a task force to reevaluate the appropriate placement of the Office of the Public Guardian.

The Task Force is requested to examine current situations, practices, and laws relating to public guardian for this purpose.

Testimony in support of this measure was provided by the Judiciary, the state Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the Disability and Communication Access Board. The Department of Health supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that the Office of the Public Guardian should be placed in an executive department that has no conflict of interest with the services the office provides. However, no agency has currently agreed to assume responsibility for the office. The Judiciary, Department of Health, and Department of Human Services all provide services to those who are served by the Office of the Public Guardian. Your Committee further finds that this measure will assist in resolving the most appropriate placement for the Office of the Public Guardian.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 7, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.