Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 24 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities to continue the Residential Settings Task Force to identify issues and solutions regarding individuals with developmental disabilities and their choice of residential setting.

The Judiciary's Office of the Public Guardian, the Department of Health, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, the Arc of Kauai, the Arc in Hawaii, and Alternative Care Services, Inc. submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committees find that a second year of work is necessary for the Task Force to do further analysis to fully address how to increase residential options, including residency in unlicensed homes, for individuals with developmental disabilities. The Task Force agreed by a majority of its members to continue its work, which will include addressing increasing residential options; further analysis of statutes, administrative rules, policies, and directives; and discussing and outlining the details of recommendations that were not included in the recent report.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 24 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.