Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2098, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enable developmentally disabled or mentally retarded individuals the freedom to choose to live in a safe residential setting of their choice provided that they can be sustained with supports, and the supports are attached to that individual.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and The Arc of Kauai. The Department of Health submitted testimony supporting the intent of this measure.

Your Committees find that it is important for individuals with developmental disabilities or mental retardation to have community residential alternatives in a setting of their choice. Federal court decisions require states to provide residential options to persons with developmental disabilities.

Your Committees further find that the State Council on Developmental Disabilities is the appropriate agency to engage in systems change activities and provide information and recommendations to the Legislature.

Your Committees have amended this measure by replacing the contents of Section 1 with S.B. No. 2509, Section 1, which are substantively similar, except for technical differences.

Your Committees further amended this measure by changing the reporting agency from the Department of Health to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

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 are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2098, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2098, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.