STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3642

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 150

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 150, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO STUDY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the Legislative Reference Bureau conduct a study and report to the 2009 Legislature regarding the establishment of a comprehensive vocational rehabilitation center serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services, the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Board, and one private citizen. 

     Your Committee finds that deaf and hard of hearing individuals have special communication needs that can have an affect on their language development, level of social adjustment, and all aspects of achieving personal independence.  The proposed study would begin the process of providing quality services tailored to meeting these special needs in order to, among other things, broaden employment options and support successful employment retention for individuals in this community.

     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 H.C.R. No. 150, H.D. 1, 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