STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1046

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1103

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1103 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES AND CENTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to conform State law to the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1978 in order to meet eligibility criteria for federal funding.   

     Testimony in support of this measure was provided by the Statewide Independent Living Council, Hawaii Centers for Independent Living, and one individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that this measure is necessary to meet the requirements of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1978, which conditions eligibility for federal funding of certain programs to the establishment of a statewide independent living council unattached to any governmental agency.  Under current State law, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii exists within the Department of Human Services.  Your Committee finds that this measure will effect the appropriate administrative adjustment to remove the Statewide Independent Living Council from the purview of a State agency in order to preserve State eligibility for federal funding. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments to its language for the purpose of clarity and accuracy. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1103, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1103, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair