STAND. COM. REP. NO. 628

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 850

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 850 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISABILITY HEALTH DISPARITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect data and submit to the Legislature a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the State prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, Office of Wellness and Resilience, Disability and Communication Access Board, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Full Life, Hawaii Self Advocacy Advisory Council, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) face many health challenges as they age including multiple chronic health conditions, vision or hearing sensory impairments, limited mobility, and poor oral health. Your Committee further finds that more data is needed to better understand the needs of individuals with ID/DD as they age and to identify what services would best support and improve their lives. This measure initiates the collection of critical data that will inform efforts to improve access to health care for individuals with disabilities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 850, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 850, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair