STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1526

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, 499

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498, and 499, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

 

G.M. No. 493

SARAH K. AHINA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012;

 

G.M. No. 494

JOLAINE L. HAO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 495

LOUISE K. IWAISHI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012;

 

G.M. No. 496

ANNIE L. KALAMA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010;

 

G.M. No. 497

ANASTASIA L. KELLER-COLLINS,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013;

 

G.M. No. 498

JENNIFER V. PATRICIO ESQ.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2013; and

 

G.M. No. 499

JOSEPHINE C. WOLL,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Upon review of the statements submitted by the nominees, your Committee finds that the aforementioned nominees will work with compassion and commitment to assist in administering the functions related to developmental disabilities for the people of Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that the nominees have been appointed based on their credentials, integrity, and a desire to make Hawaii better through their participation on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to which they have been nominated.

 

     Your Committee received testimony supporting the nomination of each of these individuals from the State Council on Development Disabilities.  Additional testimony was submitted by two individuals supporting the nomination of Sarah K. Ahina, by the Department of Human Services, Hilopa'a, and twelve individuals supporting the nomination of Jolaine L. Hao, by four individuals supporting the nomination of Louise K. Iwaishi, by four individuals supporting the nomination of Annie L. Kalama, by Hawaii Waiver Providers Association and four individuals supporting the nomination of Anastasia L. Keller-Collins, by the Hawaii Disabilities Rights Center and two individuals supporting the nomination of Jennifer V. Patricio, and by three individuals supporting the nomination of Josephine C. Woll.

 

     Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     The Council's Federal mandate (P.L. 106-402) is clear in determining the composition of this body to ensure that all the players involved in the development, implementation, and use of developmental disability supports are represented.  The law specifically requires that sixty per cent of the membership of the Council be comprised of individuals with a developmental disability, their parents, or family members.  Additionally, the following agencies are required to be on the Council:  Department of Health; the agencies that administer funds provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Older Americans Act of 1965, Titles V and XIX of the Social Security Act; the Protection and Advocacy Agency; the Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disability Education, Research, and Service; and agencies and private non-profit organizations concerned with services to individuals with developmental disability.

 

     Sarah K. Ahina meets all the federal requirements for Council membership.  She is an individual with a developmental disability who resides in Waianae.  She participated in the Council-sponsored Partners in Policymaking (PIP) Leadership Academy.  The PIP Academy is an innovative program for individuals with developmental disabilities and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities.  The program is designed to provide information, training, resources and skills, which will develop productive partnerships between people who need and use services and those in the position to make policy and law.

 

     Jolaine L. Hao meets all the federal requirements for Council membership.  Ms. Hao is the acting Quality Assurance Section Administrator for the Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division (MQD).  Her appointment to the Council would fulfill the federal requirement for a representative of Title XIX of the Social Security Act.  Her present position with MQD and her involvement with the implementation of the Quest Expanded Access program (QExA) would provide a direct link to the Council's advocacy in assuring access to medical and dental care for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Her background and experience in working with individuals with disabilities in a variety of settings, such as hospital, critical care, geriatric, and intermediate care facility/skilled nursing facilities would assist the Council in achieving its State Plan objectives to:  (1) work to reduce health disparities among persons in Hawaii with developmental disabilities, and (2) provide people with developmental disabilities with the information necessary to make an informed choice of a Medicaid managed care health plan and have access to needed medical services through the QExA program.

 

     Dr. Louise K. Iwaishi is the part-time Medical Director of the Department of Health, Family Health Services Division (FHSD).  Her appointment to the Council would fulfill the federal requirement for a representative of Title V of the Social Security Act.  Dr. Iwaishi's current position with FHSD and extensive background in pediatrics would assist the Council in its State Plan goal to provide family-centered, community-based, culturally-appropriate services and supports to all children with special needs.  Her contributions to the Council's Health and Early Childhood area of emphasis committee would help the Council to achieve its objectives for the provision of appropriate early intervention services to infants and toddlers with special needs, and increase options for children with developmental disabilities who are medically fragile to live in a natural home environment rather than a medical facility.

 

     Annie L. Kalama is an Educational Specialist with the Special Education Section of the Department of Education.  Her appointment to the Council would fulfill the federal requirement for a representative of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Her experience in various positions in the special education field would provide the Council with valuable insight on how best to proceed to achieve quality education outcomes and school transitions that are meaningful and individualized consistent with the principles of self-determination.  Her participation on the Council's Employment and Education area of emphasis committee would assist the committee to address resources and services to meet the requirements of IDEA.

 

     Anastasia L. Keller-Collins is the Vice President of Program Development for Easter Seals Hawaii (ESH), a non-profit organization providing services to individuals with disabilities.  Her appointment to the Council would fulfill the federal requirement for a representative of agencies and private non-profit organizations.  Ms. Keller-Collins' experience in overseeing the Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waiver program for ESH would assist the Council in its activities to maximize federal funds and resources, and to assure that adequate and appropriate services and supports are provided through the waiver program.  She will represent the private provider sector well on the Council through her active involvement with the Hawaii Waiver Providers Association.  Her role on the Council would increase its efforts to collaborate with service providers to address the Council's community supports goal that "people with developmental disability will have a comprehensive system of supports and services that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion in all facets of community life, and have the opportunity to live the life they desire."

 

     Jennifer V. Patricio is a staff attorney at the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.  Her appointment to the Council would fulfill the federal requirement for a representative of the State protection and advocacy system.  As a representative of the protection and advocacy system, Ms. Patricio would provide the Council with a legal perspective in its activities to promote and advocate for accessible services for individuals with developmental disabilities.  She has been attending Council meetings and the Council's Health and Early Childhood area of emphasis committee meetings.  Her participation on the Committee would greatly assist the Council in its initiatives to reduce health disparities among people with developmental disabilities, and to increase the number of individuals to access preventive and restorative dental care services.

 

     Josephine C. Woll is a parent of a young woman with a disability.  Her appointment to the Council would fulfill the federal requirement of a parent serving on the Council.  Mrs. Woll's professional background as a Registered Nurse and extensive work experience in early intervention services as past Director of Sultan Easter Seal School would be a great asset for the Council in the area of early childhood.  She would be able to help the Council advocate for increasing access and utilization of early periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment of children with special needs.  As a parent, she was instrumental in starting a national organization called Family Voices that became the voice for health care reform for children with special health care needs.  With her past involvement and leadership with Family Voices, the Council would benefit through Mrs. Woll's participation on its Health and Early Childhood area of emphasis committee in assisting with activities to advocate for appropriate early intervention services to all infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities or at risk for a developmental disability.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair