STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1794

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 219

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.C.R. No. 219 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO COLLABORATE AND APPLY FOR A FEDERAL TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY WAIVER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to assist individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries in receiving appropriate health care services by requesting the Departments of Health and Human Services to collaborate and apply for a federal traumatic brain injury waiver.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and five individuals.  The Department of Human Services submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committees find that individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries are in need of direct services, rehabilitation programs, and community support that are effective and affordable. Your Committees further find that a federal traumatic brain injury waiver with the State matching the federal funds would be able to provide these individuals with the appropriate and necessary services.

     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 concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 219 and recommend its adoption.

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