STAND. COM. REP. NO. 765

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 850

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 850, S.D. 1, 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 require and appropriate moneys for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect data and report to the Legislature on health disparities experienced by persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

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

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Honolulu Tower.

Your Committee finds that persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities have historically been a medically underserved population. Your Committee believes that the data collected pursuant to this measure will help support equitable access to health care by informing policy decisions, identifying systemic barriers, and highlighting gaps in services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that the State Council on Developmental Disabilities' report to the Legislature should include a list of recommendations and proposals, based on the Council's findings, on how state agencies and departments can implement legislation and policies to reduce health disparities experienced by persons with intellectual or developmental 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 850, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 850, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair