STAND. COM. REP. NO. 513

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 149
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 149 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR RESPITE CARE
     SERVICES FOR FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for
respite care services for families of individuals with special
needs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Health (DOH), State Planning Council on
Developmental Disabilities, Commission on Persons with
Disabilities, The Arc of Hawaii, NAMI Oahu, American Academy of
Pediatrics, and fifteen private citizens.

     Your Committee believes that families are the greatest
resource for children and are the major providers of care and
support for them, particularly if those children have special
needs requiring daily care in their own home.  These families
must endure higher financial sacrifices, physical and emotional
stress, and isolation from being constantly tied to the home.
The last major appropriation for respite care for families who
provide home care was in 1990 for support services and training.
Your Committee finds that the respite care budget of the DOH has
been substantially reduced since then.  This measure represents
much needed and long overdue assistance to those families.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 513
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     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 149, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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