STAND. COM. REP. NO.  796-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1754

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1754, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage individuals to obtain employment and improve their employment opportunities by establishing a medicaid buy-in program for individuals with disabilities.

The Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Community Alliance for Mental Health, United Self Help, and two individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making the appropriation in an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, for the purpose of facilitating further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1754, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1754, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair