STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3171

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 17

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 17, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES DIVISION TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW HAWAII'S STATUTORY DEFINITION OF "DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES","

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Division to establish a task force to review Hawaii's statutory definition of "developmental disabilities".

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and Disability and Communication Access Board.

     Your Committee finds that the definition of "developmental disabilities" in section 333F-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is a federal definition that was intended to be a functional or planning definition for the State to further define.  Every state except Hawaii has further defined "developmental disabilities" in state statutes or regulations.

     Your Committee further finds that eligibility for services provided by the Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Division is based on the statutory definition of developmental disabilities.  Many people with behavioral challenges, including fetal alcohol syndrome, may not be covered by the current definition.  Therefore, this measure encourages the Department of Health to review the statutory definition of "developmental disabilities" so the State may improve its support for persons with disabilities and their families.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 17, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 17, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair