STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1555

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 632
                                        H.D. 2
                                        S.D. 1




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B.
No. 632, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISABILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist persons with
developmental disabilities or mental retardation to live
independently in settings other than licensed residential
facilities.

     To achieve this purpose, this bill creates the developmental
disabilities special fund whose funds are to be solely
appropriated for home- and community-based waiver services to be
expended by the Department of Health for persons with
developmental disabilities or mental retardation.  The bill also
requires the Department of Health to provide supported living
stipends for persons with developmental disabilities or mental
retardation choosing to live independently in settings other than
licensed residential facilities.  The bill finally appropriates:

     (1)  An unspecified amount of general revenues for fiscal
          year 1999-2000 and fiscal year 2000-2001 to provide
          Title XIX home- and community-based waiver services for
          persons with developmental disabilities or mental

 
a                                                     HB632 SD1
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1555
                                   Page 2


          retardation and to support changes to the present
          system so that it is more flexible and responsive to
          meet the needs of families;

     (2)  An unspecified amount of general revenues for fiscal
          year 1999-2000 and fiscal year 2000-2001 for the State
          Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities to hire
          an independent entity to conduct a programmatic
          evaluation of case management services provided by the
          Department of Health; and

     (3)  An unspecified amount from the developmental
          disabilities special fund for fiscal year 1999-2000 and
          fiscal year 2000-2001 for Title XIX home- and
          community-based waiver services for persons with
          developmental disabilities or mental retardation.

     The bill requires that the appropriations shall increase the
federal funds ceiling, in the same amounts as the respective
appropriations, for Title XIX programs.  Finally, the Auditor is
required to conduct a "financial evaluation" of case management
services provided by the Department of Health and report to the
Legislature twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
Session of 2000.  The bill takes effect on January 1, 2000.

     Your Committee believes that the creation of the
developmental disabilities special fund, the stipends, and the
appropriations made in this bill will assist persons with
developmental disabilities or mental retardation who choose to
live independently in settings other than licensed residential
facilities.

     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 H.B. No.
632, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.


 
a                                                     HB632 SD1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1555
                                   Page 3


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



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
a                                                     HB632 SD1