149
THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 2
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
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, 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   
35        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature

 
Page 2                                                     149
                                  S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 2
                                                        
                                                        

 1   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
 2   Representatives concurring, that the Commission on Persons with
 3   Disabilities is requested to conduct a comprehensive review to
 4   assess services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind
 5   persons; and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study:
 8   
 9        (1)  Review the range of services to the target population
10             currently available in the public and private sectors
11             in Hawaii;
12   
13        (2)  Identify those federal and state laws that mandate
14             services to the target population, and assess the
15             level of compliance with those laws;
16   
17        (3)  Determine the current adequacy and gaps in the
18             provision of mandated services to the target
19             population; and
20   
21        (4)  Make recommendations on the establishment of an
22             administrative structure to provide and monitor
23             appropriate and effective services to the target
24             population;
25   
26   and
27   
28        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study include a review of
29   communication access, education, early intervention programs,
30   post-secondary education, social services, employment,
31   independent living, telecommunications, mental health,
32   recreation including tourism, emergency notification including
33   civil defense, and professional development and standards for
34   those persons who serve the target population; and
35   
36        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Commission on Persons with
37   Disabilities is requested to convene a task force to provide
38   input for the study, including representatives from the
39   following organizations and groups:
40   
41        (1)  Aloha Association for the Deaf;
42   
43        (2)  Hawaii Services on Deafness;
44   
45        (3)  Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deafness;

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

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

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

 1        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference
 2   Bureau is requested to assist the Commission on Persons with
 3   Disabilities in drafting any proposed legislation that the
 4   Commission may recommend as a result of its study; and
 5   
 6        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 7   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director
 8   of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, President of
 9   the Aloha State Association of the Deaf, President of the Board
10   for Hawaii Services on Deafness, Chairperson of Hawaii State
11   Coordinating Council on Deafness, Chairperson of the State
12   Coordinating Council on Deaf-Blindness, President of Ohana Kuli
13   Ano Kokua chapter of the national Self Help for the Hard of
14   Hearing, Chair of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory
15   Committee to Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Chairperson of
16   the Advisory Council for Hawaii Center for the Deaf and Blind,
17   Director of Gallaudet University Regional Center, Director of
18   the Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training Center,
19   Kapiolani Community College Interpreter Education Program,
20   Administrator of the Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the
21   Blind Division, Hawaii Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf,
22   and the Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.