STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1396

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 81

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 81 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A FINANCIAL AND PROGRAM AUDIT OF HAWAII'S INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a financial and program audit of Hawaii's Independent Living Center.

     The Disability and Communication Access Board, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii, the Deaf & Hard‑of‑Hearing Advisory Board, Access Aloha, and thirteen individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  One individual submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  Hawaii's Centers for Independent Living submitted comments.

     Hawaii's Centers for Independent Living is a consumer‑controlled, community‑based, cross‑disability, nonprofit agency that was established to maximize the independence of individuals with disabilities and promote their integration into the mainstream of American society.  The agency receives significant federal and state funds to provide services to individuals with disabilities for these purposes.  Questions and concerns have been raised by the community regarding whether the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living is fulfilling its mission and whether its Board of Directors is meetings its fiduciary responsibilities.  This measure requests the Auditor to conduct a financial and program audit of the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living and to submit a report to the Legislature.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 81 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair