STAND. COM. REP. NO. 934-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1787

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1787, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish Employment First as a policy of the State and the counties with respect to persons with disabilities;

(2) Require state and county agencies to implement this policy in hiring and all programs and services administered or funded by the State or counties; and

(3) Apply Employee First principles to Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Self Advocacy Advisory Council, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committee finds that persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities comprise an underutilized population of potential employees who are proven to be a positive part of the workplace. Your Committee further finds that Employment First is a framework for systems change that is centered on the premise that all citizens are capable of full participation in integrated employment and community life. Establishing Employment First as a state policy would support the inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the workplace and recognize the contributions they make to the community and in the work environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that required the Department of Human Services to ensure that contracted agency providers that provide services for Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver programs follow Employment First principles; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1787, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1787, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair