STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1078

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 208

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 208, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate the funds necessary, in addition to the Department of Health's biennium budget request, for the continued maintenance and operation of developmental disabilities domiciliary homes and developmental disabilities apartment complexes.

     The Department of Health, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Arc in Hawaii, and Responsive Caregivers of Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committees find that developmental disabilities residential services providers perform a vital service to the State.  Current reimbursement rates for residential services have not kept pace with the cost of providing quality services and operating in a fiscally efficient manner.  Numerous developmental disabilities domiciliary homes have closed over the past several years as a result of operational deficits.  The developmental disabilities population is in great need as they cannot live independently and need the services that an assisted living environment provides.  In addition, many of the residents of developmental disabilities domiciliary homes and developmental disabilities apartment complexes are aging and require more costly care and services.  Additional funding will maintain their community-based placement and avoid premature institutionalization.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the appropriation amount from an unspecified sum to $1.  Your Committees received a fiscal impact statement from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities that this measure, if passed, would cost the State approximately $600,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008, and $600,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009, in addition to the amount requested in the Department of Health's biennium budget, for the continued maintenance and operation of developmental disabilities domiciliary homes and developmental disabilities apartment complexes.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 208, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 208, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health,

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair