STAND. COM. REP. 2178

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 3118

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 3118 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSIT SERVICES FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a medical discount taxi program for the elderly and disabled who have limited income and are not wheelchair-bound.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability and Communication Access Board, Kokua Council, and three private citizens.

Your Committees find that the current level of services does not meet the transportation needs of those with disabilities and limited income. Without access to transportation, these individuals face the challenge of getting to and from activities of daily living. This measure attempts to fulfill their transportation needs.

All testimony submitted supported the measure, however the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Disability and Communication Access Board raised some concerns with the current language of the bill. Accordingly, your Committees have made the following amendments:

(1) Deleting the exclusion of wheelchair-bound individuals;

(2) Allowing the service to be utilized by qualified individuals for any transportation need, not only for medical services;

(3) Specifying that the Oahu Transit Services, which runs the existing Handi Van Service, is to administer the contracts with taxi companies;

(4) Authorizing the Executive Office of Aging and the Disability and Communication Access Board to assist the Department of Human Services in developing eligibility standards; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3118, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3118, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

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SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair