STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1250

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 8

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 8 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MED-QUEST DIVISION TO IMPLEMENT AN INCOME DISREGARD PROGRAM FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division to implement an income disregard program for workers with disabilities to enable workers with disabilities to seek or maintain employment, while also retaining necessary Medicaid benefits and supports.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and six individuals.

     Your Committees find that despite considerable progress being made over the past several decades to remove barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities, additional challenges remain for individuals with disabilities who wish to remain in the workforce, including limited health insurance options.  To retain Medicaid coverage, workers with disabilities often must limit their income and assets to poverty levels.  Your Committees further find that establishing an income disregard program in the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services would allow Medicaid recipients with disabilities to earn more than would otherwise be possible, while still retaining the Medicaid coverage and services these individuals need to successfully live in the community.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 8 and recommend that it be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair