STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3391

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 115

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R. No. 115, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ON A BLOCK BASIS IN ADDITION TO ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to study alternate methods of contracting for services for students with disabilities.

     Specifically, this measure requests the Department of Education to:

     (1)  Conduct a two-year pilot project to implement contracts for services for students with disabilities on a block basis, in addition to the current one-to-one basis;

     (2)  Convene a working group to:

          (A)  Determine the nature of services that could be contracted by a block of time to serve more than one student with disabilities;

          (B)  Select, in coordination with the Department of Education, three school sites for participation in the pilot project; and

          (C)  Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the delivery of services to students with complex needs utilizing a block contract model and an employee-based model; and

     (3)  Submit a progress report to the Legislature prior to the 2017 Regular Session, and a final report prior to the 2018 Regular Session.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Special Education Advisory Council, Community Children's Councils, and one individual.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Education currently provides contract services on a one-to-one basis for students with disabilities who have complex needs.  Your Committee also finds that, in addition to not being cost-effective, one-to-one service may cause a student to become overly dependent on the adult support person and inhibit peer-to-peer interaction.  Your Committee further finds that purchasing services in a block may allow for greater flexibility in meeting the needs of students with disabilities.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 115, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair