STAND. COM. REP. NO. 390-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2419

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2419 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish Employment First as a policy of the State and counties;

(2) Require State and county agencies to coordinate efforts and collaborate to ensure that programs, policies, procedures, and funding support competitive employment in an integrated setting for persons with disabilities; and

(3) Apply Employment First principles to Medicaid home- and community-based waiver programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Employment First Hawaii, Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and one individual. Your Committee received comments from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Employment First is a policy that asserts that employment in the general workforce is the first and preferred option for persons with disabilities who receive assistance from publicly funded systems. The policy encourages all people, regardless of their disability, to have the opportunity to work and is part of a national effort supported by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy. At least forty states have adopted Employment First legislation or made an official state policy supporting Employment First.

Your Committee notes that in 2017, Governor David Ige signed a proclamation identifying October as Disability Employment Awareness month and endorsed Hawaii's designation as an Employment First state.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to December 31, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2419, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2419, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair