STAND. COM. REP. NO.  333-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 1998

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1998 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE NUMBER OF BLIND, DEAF, AND DEAF-BLIND PERSONS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a survey to determine the number of blind, deaf, and deaf-blind persons in Hawaii.

     Hui O Na Makamaka and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  DHS, the Disability and Communication Access Board, and a concerned individual supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee received testimony that a needs assessment would be useful in determining the services needed and desired by the blind, deaf, and deaf-blind community.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Expanding the scope to require a needs assessment that includes collecting data and determining the requirements and desires of the specified population;

     (2)  Defining "deaf" and "blind"; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee respectfully requests that as the needs assessment is conducted, it also includes contact information of the blind, deaf, and deaf-blind community for emergency purposes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1998, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1998, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair