149
THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 2
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                    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, families,
 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 make
24   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
29   (Commission), has the responsibility to "review and assess the
30   problems and needs, and the availability, of adequate services
31   and resources for persons with disabilities...conduct research,
32   studies, data collection, and planning activities...," as
33   provided in section 348E-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes; now,
34   therefore,
35   

 
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 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, with the
 4   assistance of the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB), in
 5   conjunction with the Department of Human Services' Vocational
 6   Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division, is
 7   requested to conduct a comprehensive review to assess services
 8   for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind persons; and
 9   
10        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study:
11   
12        (1)  Review the range of services to the target population
13             currently available in the public and private sectors
14             in Hawaii;
15   
16        (2)  Identify those federal and state laws that mandate
17             services to the target population, and assess the
18             level of compliance with those laws;
19   
20        (3)  Determine the current adequacy and gaps in the
21             provision of mandated services to the target
22             population; and
23   
24        (4)  Make recommendations on the establishment of an
25             administrative structure to provide and monitor
26             appropriate and effective services to the target
27             population;
28   
29   and
30   
31        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a review of
32   communication access, education, early intervention programs,
33   post-secondary education, social services, employment,
34   independent living, telecommunications, mental health,
35   recreation including tourism, emergency notification including
36   civil defense, and professional development and standards for
37   those persons who serve the target population; and
38   
39        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission is requested to
40   convene a task force to provide input for the study, including
41   representatives from the following organizations and groups:
42   
43        (1)  Aloha Association for the Deaf;
44   
45        (2)  Hawaii Services on Deafness;
46   
47        (3)  Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness;

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 2
                                                        H.D. 2
                                                        


 1        (4)  Coordinating Council on Persons Who Are Deaf-Blind in
 2             Hawaii;
 3   
 4        (5)  Ohana Kuli Ano Kokua chapter of the national Self-
 5             Help for the Hard of Hearing People;
 6   
 7        (6)  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee to
 8             Vocational Rehabilitation Services;
 9   
10        (7)  Advisory Council for Hawaii Center for the Deaf and
11             the Blind;
12   
13        (8)  Gallaudet University Regional Center;
14   
15        (9)  Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training
16             Center;
17   
18       (10)  One consumer representative from each county;
19   
20       (11)  One representative who is a member of the target
21             population;
22   
23       (12)  One representative who is a family member of a person
24             who is member of the target population;
25   
26       (13)  One representative who has an interest in the target
27             population community;
28   
29       (14)  Hawaii Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf;
30   
31       (15)  Kapiolani Community College Interpreter Education
32             Program; and
33   
34       (16)  Department of Human Services, Vocational
35             Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division;
36   
37   and
38   
39        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission is requested to
40   submit an interim report to the Legislature no later than
41   twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of
42   2000, and a final report to the Legislature no later than
43   twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of
44   2001; and
45   
46        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LRB is requested to assist in
47   drafting any proposed legislation as a result of the study; and

 
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 1   
 2        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 3   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human
 4   Services, Executive Director of the Commission on Persons with
 5   Disabilities, President of the Aloha State Association of the
 6   Deaf, President of the Board for Hawaii Services on Deafness,
 7   Chairperson of Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness,
 8   Chairperson of the State Coordinating Council on Deaf-
 9   Blindness, President of Ohana Kuli Ano Kokua chapter of the
10   national Self Help for the Hard of Hearing, Chair of the Deaf
11   and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee to Vocational
12   Rehabilitation Services, Chairperson of the Advisory Council
13   for the Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind, Director of
14   Gallaudet University Regional Center, Director of the Pacific
15   Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, Kapiolani
16   Community College Interpreter Education Program, Administrator
17   of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
18   Division, Hawaii Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and the
19   Acting Director of LRB.