REPORT TITLE:
Deaf and Blind Persons


DESCRIPTION:
Creates a blue ribbon panel to conduct a study of state services
and programs relating to deaf and blind persons.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           865
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE DEAF AND BLIND. 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there are an
 
 2 estimated seventy two thousand persons in Hawaii who are deaf,
 
 3 hard of hearing, or deaf and blind who are receiving inadequate
 
 4 or unacceptable levels of public services.  Many of these
 
 5 services are mandated by federal and state laws.  The legislature
 
 6 further finds that a comprehensive study should be undertaken to
 
 7 identify the required services, assess the State's compliance
 
 8 with federal and state mandates relating to those services, and
 
 9 make recommendations for the establishment of an administrative
 
10 structure to provide appropriate and effective services to the
 
11 target population.
 
12      The purpose of this Act is to establish a blue ribbon panel
 
13 to improve services to the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf and
 
14 blind.
 
15      SECTION 2.  There is established a blue ribbon panel on
 
16 services to the deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf and blind (target
 
17 population) to be placed under the department of health for
 
18 administrative purposes.  The panel shall be appointed by the
 
19 director of health and shall include one volunteer representative
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           865
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 from each of the following organizations, agencies, and groups:
 
 2      (1)  Aloha State Association of the Deaf;
 
 3      (2)  Hawaii Center for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing;
 
 4      (3)  Vocational rehabilitation and services for the blind
 
 5           division of the department of human services;
 
 6      (4)  Deaf Advisory Council to the vocational rehabilitation
 
 7           services division;
 
 8      (5)  Gallaudet University regional center;
 
 9      (6)  Commission on persons with disabilities of the
 
10           department of health;
 
11      (7)  Hawaii state coordinating council on deafness of the
 
12           department of health;
 
13      (8)  Hawaii services on deafness;
 
14      (9)  Kapiolani community college; 
 
15     (10)  Hawaii State Coordinating Council on Deaf-Blindness;
 
16     (11)  Parents of children in the target population;
 
17     (12)  Deaf persons;
 
18     (13)  Hard of hearing persons;
 
19     (14)  Deaf-blind persons; 
 
20     (15)  Late-deafened persons; and
 
21     (16)  Any other organization or agency deemed necessary by
 
22           the director of health.
 
23      SECTION 3.  (a)  The blue ribbon panel shall conduct a study
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           865
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 to:
 
 2      (1)  Identify the public services that are required by law
 
 3           to be afforded to the target population;
 
 4      (2)  Assess the level of compliance with those requirements;
 
 5           and
 
 6      (3)  Make recommendations on the establishment of an
 
 7           administrative structure to provide appropriate and
 
 8           effective services to the target population.
 
 9      (b)  The blue ribbon panel shall also review the following
 
10 programs and services that relate to the target population for
 
11 adequacy and to recommend improvement:
 
12      (1)  Identification of persons in the target population;
 
13      (2)  Early intervention and childhood services;
 
14      (3)  Elementary and secondary education;
 
15      (4)  Post-secondary education;
 
16      (5)  Extracurricular school activities;
 
17      (6)  Mental health;
 
18      (7)  Vocational rehabilitation;
 
19      (8)  Employment opportunities;
 
20      (9)  Employment support;
 
21     (10)  Health care;
 
22     (11)  Alcohol and drug abuse treatment;
 
23     (12)  Family services;
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           865
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1     (13)  Foster care;
 
 2     (14)  Public safety;
 
 3     (15)  Emergency preparedness;
 
 4     (16)  Crisis intervention;
 
 5     (17)  Social welfare benefits;
 
 6     (18)  Telecommunications;
 
 7     (19)  Assistive technology;
 
 8     (20)  Hearing aids;
 
 9     (21)  Service guide dogs;
 
10     (22)  Technical assistance;
 
11     (23)  Recreation;
 
12     (24)  Independent living;
 
13     (25)  Housing;
 
14     (26)  Professional studies;
 
15     (27)  Professional standards in the professions;
 
16     (28)  Elderly affairs;
 
17     (29)  Deaf-blind services;
 
18     (30)  Developmentally-disabled deaf services.
 
19      SECTION 4.  The blue ribbon panel established by section 2
 
20 of this Act shall report its findings and recommendations to the
 
21 legislature and the governor no later than twenty days before the
 
22 convening of the regular session of 2000.  The panel shall cease
 
23 to exist after the filing of its report.
 

 
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                                     S.B. NO.           865
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 2 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,000, or so much
 
 3 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, for travel
 
 4 expenses for members of the blue ribbon panel on the deaf, hard
 
 5 of hearing, and deaf and blind to attend meetings for the
 
 6 purposes of this Act.
 
 7      SECTION 6.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
 8 department of health for the purposes of this Act.
 
 9      SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
 
10 provided that section 5 shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
11 
 
12                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________