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 S.B. No. 2509 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support individuals with developmental disabilities or mental retardation to live in a setting of their choice.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, The Arc of Kauai, and The Arc of Hawaii.

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 a support network needs to be in place to ensure the health and safety of those individuals who choose to live in a residential setting. This measure will balance the need for health, safety, and freedom of choice.

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 S.B. No. 2509 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.