STAND. COM. REP. NO. 417

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 241

       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 Health and Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 241 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY PLACEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate the placement of all individuals in need of care in a community-based residential setting.

     Specifically, this measure directs the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services to maintain an inventory of all community-based care facilities and community care foster family homes.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Coalition of Care Home Administrators and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.  The State Council on Developmental Disabilities submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure with comments.  The Department of Health and the Department of Human Services submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committees find that it is increasingly difficult for social workers and health care professionals to find suitable community placements for patients being discharged from hospitals and other health care facilities.  A central database with an up-to-date inventory of vacancies would streamline and expedite the placement process.

     The Department of Human Services estimates that an appropriation in the amount of $139,700 is necessary to develop the inventory program and contract for services.

     Your Committees adopted the recommendation of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities by including adult foster homes in the inventory.

     Your Committees further amended this measure by including appropriations that would enable the Department of Human Services to contract out for services needed to maintain the inventory.

     In addition, your Committees amended this measure by changing the effective date so that the inventory will be implemented and available beginning July 1, 2008, though, the appropriations will become effective on July 1, 2007, in order for the department to have the funds necessary for development of the inventory program.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 241, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 241, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair