THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            149
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING A STUDY FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW TO ASSESS
    SERVICES FOR DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, AND DEAF-BLIND
    POPULATIONS.
 


 1        WHEREAS, there are an estimated 72,000 persons with
 2   hearing loss in Hawaii, who are among an estimated 28,000,000
 3   people in the United States with hearing loss; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, there is an inadequate and unacceptable level of
 6   public and private services available to the deaf, hard of
 7   hearing, and deaf-blind persons (target population) in Hawaii,
 8   which adversely impacts them, as well as their work, family,
 9   and social activities, resulting in an overall reduction in
10   their quality of life; and
11   
12        WHEREAS, services to the target population are provided
13   through public and private agencies, and tend to be fragmented
14   and uncoordinated, making it difficult for the target
15   population to receive all available services in the most
16   efficient and cost-effective manner; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, providing a means of access to a majority of
19   these services is mandated by federal and state laws; and
20   
21        WHEREAS, a comprehensive study is necessary to identify
22   the required services, assess the State's compliance with
23   federal and state mandates relating to those services, and to
24   make recommendations for the establishment of an administrative
25   structure to provide and monitor appropriate and effective
26   services to the target population; and
27   
28        WHEREAS, the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, has
29   the responsibility to "review and assess the problems and
30   needs, and the availability, of adequate services and resources
31   for persons with disabilities...conduct research, studies, data
32   collection, and planning activities..., as provided in section
33   348E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes; now, therefore,
34   

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            149
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
 2   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
 3   Representatives concurring, that the Commission on Persons with
 4   Disabilities, with the assistance of the Legislative Reference
 5   Bureau, is requested to conduct a comprehensive review to
 6   assess services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind
 7   persons; and
 8   
 9        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study:
10   
11        (1)  Review the range of services to the target population
12             currently available in the public and private sectors
13             in Hawaii;
14   
15        (2)  Identify those federal and state laws that mandate
16             services to the target population, and assess the
17             level of compliance with those laws;
18   
19        (3)  Determine the current adequacy and gaps in the
20             provision of mandated services to the target
21             population; and
22   
23        (4)  Make recommendations on the establishment of an
24             administrative structure to provide and monitor
25             appropriate and effective services to the target
26             population; 
27   
28   and
29   
30        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a review of
31   communication access, education, early intervention programs,
32   post-secondary education, social services, employment,
33   independent living, telecommunications, mental health,
34   recreation including tourism, emergency notification including
35   civil defense, and professional development and standards for
36   those persons who serve the target population; and
37   
38        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission on Persons with
39   Disabilities is requested to convene a task force to provide
40   input for the study, including representatives from the
41   following organizations and groups:
42   

 
 
 
 
 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            149
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        (1)  Aloha Association for the Deaf;
 2   
 3        (2)  Hawaii Services on Deafness;
 4   
 5        (3)  Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness;
 6   
 7        (4)  Coordinating Council on Persons Who Are Deaf-Blind in
 8             Hawaii;
 9   
10        (5)  Ohana Kuli Ano Kokua chapter of the national Self-
11             Help for the Hard of Hearing People;
12   
13        (6)  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee to
14             Vocational Rehabilitation Services;
15   
16        (7)  Advisory Council for Hawaii Center for the Deaf and
17             the Blind;
18   
19        (8)  Gallaudet University Regional Center;
20   
21        (9)  Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training
22             Center;
23   
24       (10)  One consumer representative from each county;
25   
26       (11)  One representative who is a member of the target
27             population;
28   
29       (12)  One representative who is a family member of a person
30             who is member of the target population; and
31   
32       (13)  One representative who has an interest in the target
33             population community;
34   
35   and
36   
37        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission on Persons with
38   Disabilities is requested to submit, with the assistance of the
39   Legislative Reference Bureau, an interim report to the
40   Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of
41   the Regular Session of 2000, and a final report no later than
42   twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of

 
 
 
 
 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            149
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   2001; and
 2   
 3        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 4   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director
 5   of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, President of
 6   the Aloha State Association of the Deaf, President of the Board
 7   for Hawaii Services on Deafness, Chairperson of Hawaii State
 8   Coordinating Council on Deafness, Chairperson of the State
 9   Coordinating Council on Deaf-Blindness, President of Ohana Kuli
10   Ano Kokua chapter of the national Self Help for the Hard of
11   Hearing, Chair of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory
12   Committee to Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Chairperson of
13   the Advisory Council for Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind,
14   Director of Gallaudet University Regional Center, Director of
15   the Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training Center,
16   and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.
17 
18 
19 
20                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________