STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3635

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 314

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 314 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER A REHABILITATIVE AND RELATED SERVICES GRADUATE SCHOOL LOAN PROGRAM WITHIN ITS CENTER ON DISABILITY STUDIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the University of Hawaii to establish and administer a rehabilitative and related services graduate school loan program within its Center on Disability Studies.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Chapter, American Physical Therapy Association, the Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, and twenty-four individuals.  Testimony in opposition to the measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committees find that the current workforce cannot support the growing need for licensed and qualified rehabilitative and related services professionals in the State.  Unfortunately, accredited programs for all of these fields are not available in the State; therefore, we must look to qualified individuals from outside of the State or local residents who have been educated and trained outside of the State to return to Hawaii to provide necessary services.  Your Committees find that the provision of assistance to individuals enrolled in graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and school psychology is a viable option for growing the required workforce.

     This measure urges the University of Hawaii to establish a rehabilitative and related services graduate school loan program to support the local workforce.  Similarly, the Hawaii Educator Loan Program, administered by the University of Hawaii, has been successful in attempting to recruit teacher candidates to teach in critical needs areas in the Department of Education.  Your Committees believe that the establishment of a similar program for rehabilitative and related services professionals may also prove successful.  Representations were also made that there has been positive feedback from financial institutions that would be willing to administer such a program, if established.  Additionally, testimony provided further emphasized the gravity of this situation, and your Committees recognize that further action may be warranted, including the possibility of convening a task force to address the workforce shortage.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Human Services and Public Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 314, and recommend its adoption.

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

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair