STAND. COM. REP. NO. 921

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 755

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 755, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISABILITY HEALTH DISPARITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to submit a report to the Legislature on the health disparities experienced by persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, University of Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the report required by this measure will help the State better understand the health disparities experienced by, and social determinants of health for, persons in the State having developmental or intellectual disabilities. This data will allow the State to identify the optimal allocation of resources to support persons having developmental or intellectual abilities and to improve their access to care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount from $500,000 to an unspecified sum, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendment for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 755, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 755, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair