CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 64

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 850

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 850, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to require the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect data and submit to the Legislature a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the State prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027.

Your Committee on Conference finds that adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities experience disproportionate health disparities compared to those without disabilities. Your Committee on Conference further finds that it is imperative for the State to gather fundamental baseline data for service evaluation, policy development, and research to serve the current and future needs of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including culturally appropriate health care, reduced barriers to health care access, reduced health disparities, and increased employment opportunities.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $550,000 for the fiscal biennium for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect comprehensive data and compile and submit a report to the Legislature;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 850, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 850, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair