Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred H.R. No. 96 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to request the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities (DD Council) to convene a task force to identify issues and solutions regarding individuals with developmental disabilities and their choice of residential setting.

The DD Council, Arc of Kauai, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and many concerned individuals and consumers testified in support of this measure. The Department of Human Services provided comments.

Your Committees find that individuals with developmental disabilities desire to have greater self-determination and selection in choosing their place of residence. At the same time, these individuals have only a limited number of options within the community. Your Committees also recognize that there are not enough homes available, and that the lack of residences is in part due to rules and regulations that focus on safety and do not always consider other factors such as quality of life and overall well being.

Your Committees respectfully recommend that the affected agencies and departments discuss waivers that would allow individuals with disabilities to reside in unlicensed homes.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this resolution by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 96, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 96, H.D. 1.