House Standing Committee on Health

Hello and good morning. We are convening the House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness. It is April 16, 09:45 and we are convening to hear resolutions. And so we'll get right into it.

So we'll start first with SCR 63 SD 1, requesting the Disability and Communication Access Board study the communication needs of individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf blind in health care setting and make necessary revisions to the guidance for health care providers.

First off, just on my list, we have Doctor Jack from SHIPTE, not present in support. Next, we have Kristine Pagano, Disability and Community Access Board in support and in person. Please, if you can state your name and all position.

And then the person on Zoom will speak.

I am just asking if the interpreter can see me from this angle.

Can you?

Can you?

See her?

While we're moving the camera.

She's yeah. She's just a little bit far in the distance.

If you if you want to go up near her in front of her, that's fine. You don't have to stay here at this podium today.

Oh, we're we're zooming it on the camera.

Okay.

It's our first

Can you see?

Okay. Yeah.

Okay. Yes.

Where is the camera exactly? Which one am I looking at?

This one. Yep. That one.

Okay. Great. Thank you. Alright.

So I'll just adjust my gaze then. Good morning, committee. Human Services and Homelessness Bill Committee. Thank you for listening to this bill, SCR 63 SD1. To study the communication access needs for individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf blind in the health care settings.

DCAB is in sponsor of this bill, and we are willing to do the study for this bill. It is critical for the people with communication access needs. And looking at what technology, what serve where services can improve, what has been done so far.

And it's very difficult for individuals because every individual has their own unique need. And so to match up that need with an individual is a challenge.

So looking at that, what are some similarities and then what are the differences? And that's what we'd be doing and finding through this study. So I thank you all, for and really appreciate you for supporting this bill. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Up next, we have Nikki Kepo'o in support on Zoom. Go ahead, Nikki.

Hi. Hi. Aloha. I wasn't sure if the interpreter is ready.

Okay.

Perfect. Aloha. My name is Nikki Kepo'o. I am a mother of a deaf son, and I just wanted to share an a personal experience to why I have I'm requesting full support. We are very involved in the deaf community, and we had a very close deaf friend, fall ill, who had a massive stroke.

Unfortunately, during the care, they didn't necessarily refuse an interpreter but they made it nearly impossible for him to receive effective communication or accessibility. It went back and forth for several weeks.

There was a timed opportunity for him where he was only allowed an ASL interpreter during certain hours, which I fought very passionately because you don't know when he may need that help. He also could not use a part of his body, so it was really difficult to write anything for the health care providers.

We tried everything we could to get them to understand that the communication was part of his health care, but they just felt if he could say whether or not he was sore and where he was sore, that was enough, and it wasn't enough.

Eventually, he had to move to get the actual care, but it was late, and he passed away shortly after. So I am requesting that this become a top priority for our entire community. I don't think people understand that just how difficult it is to communicate at any level, let alone dealing with your health in a time sensitive manner. So if you can please push this bill forward, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you so much. And that's all we have on our list to testify. We also have the Hawaii Disability Rights Center in support, the Comprehensive Service Center for People who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf blind in support, and the Disability and Communication Access Board in support.

We also have 26 individuals in support and one offering comments. Would anybody else care to testify on SCR 63 SD1?

If not, members questions?

Okay. Moving right along into our next item of the day. SCR 8, urging the counties to act on any building permit application for modification of a residence that is prescribed by a licensed health care provider and found by the county to be central to safety or health of an older adult or person with a disability within forty five days of receipt of a completed application.

For this item, we have first up we have Doctor Jack Lewin, HB 250.

In support. Not here yet.

And that is the only person we have registered to testify. Would anybody else care to testify on this item?

Yeah. He got this done.

Thank you.

And with that, we have testimony support from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Kina Malco in support. The Hawaii Disability Rights Center in support, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition in support, and one individual in support. Because if Doctor Jack's not here, would any member have any questions?

Thanks for being here. You know the measure is completed application and approval forty five days.

Thank you.

Just really curious what is the average time it does take a facility for this community to kind of walk through the process?

I wouldn't know. That would probably have something the counties maybe could pull. But I'm sorry. I'm Brian Victor here on behalf of the DCAB. What I do know, and I you know, I think I mentioned this at a prior committee hearing.

So it related to the the permit issue is also the question of how to pay for a lot of patient that's needed. I know the city, for instance, has a program that you can apply for. But because it uses federal funds, it takes a long time to get approval. So they've said like that's not useful. So I do know there's a concern with length of time.

Obviously, when people there's other people that have slowly worsening mobility when time isn't as big of a factor because they they have the ability to plan ahead. But there's a lot of people where it's unexpected and that's an accident, stroke, anything like that where it's really critical that they if they're gonna stay in place that they get the spotifications done.

So there's definitely effort individual stories of people having to move because they can't use the place that they're in. They can't get, you know, can't get or pay for full or can't get the financing to make the modifications.

So and that's related to personal residence or single family residence or, you know, in the case where they suffer a setback and then need these modifications. Just really curious how that applies to quasi public facilities such as a mall that access for the disabled.

I understand that new facilities, but just really curious how modifications happen in commercial or closet public settings and what that timeline is.

Yeah. So the ADA, when it was passed for when it came to commercial for title three entities, essentially, they do what they call them easily achievable barrier removal. So there was a list that I don't sorry. I have to list it probably with like, 13 things that they were expected to do in relatively short period of time. Doors, putting in ramps instead of stairs, things of that nature.

Accessible parking was a big one, but the accessible parking spaces in. So there's a thing though, but some of the more significant things, especially a bit, would require touching a load bearing column station like that was not required.

Obviously, in new construction because you can design it upfront to be accessible, then design regulations are fully in effect. But there definitely are older places that aren't accessible and don't have to become accessible because of that business technical barriers.

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Chair.

Okay. Thank you. Members, any other questions? If not, move on to our next item of the day. SCR 160 urging the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Department of Human Services, homeless programs office, state wide office of homelessness, outreach solutions, and the Hawaii housing Finance and Development Corporation to create a housing ladder program to help individuals and families graduate into unsubsidized housing.

And for this, we have the Hawaii Public Housing Authority

In support. Which stands on its testimony.

Thank you. Next up, we have HHFDC in support.

Thank you so much.

And we also have the statewide office on homelessness and housing solutions. I see him in person. Thank you so much. And we also have the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition in support. That's all we have to testify.

Members, any questions?

Question, sir. Or vice chair for DHS, please.

Public housing? Yes. Okay.

Thank you for supporting this resolution. I have a question. I know, in in the public housing program and I think in the section eight program, etcetera, there are programs to do financial literacy and to help residents kinda move up and get out of housing. How much focus has DHS done in recent years to really focus on improving the financial well-being of residents who are currently in public housing and the section eight programs to eventually get out of those programs?

Thanks, representative. My name is Ben Park. So we have what's called our family self sufficiency program. It's mandated.

Give us about a 100,000 a year for one. Technically, probably graduate about maybe 30 families from the program. It's a five year contract where they enter whatever earnings they improve on, baseline into escrow. And after five years, they're allowed to spend it on whatever.

Is this a federal program where the Federal Government helps subsidize their mortgage payment once they purchase a home?

No. No?

They're a program.

The escrow part is theirs to spend on whatever they want. But, yeah, in twenty years ago, there was more focus and attention on resident services. The federal used to give us to run the conference and services section. And they used to also contract out services for the different conference. But that is not for the past twenty years.

Okay. Subject to congressional.

Thank you. Appreciate it. Members, any other questions? If not, we'll move right on to our next item on the agenda. SDR 90 requesting the Planning Department of each county to establish kupuna friendly building permit requirements for parking accessibility and private businesses operating hours.

This item, we have one person scheduled to testify, doctor Jack Nueh from Shifta. Not here yet. She's not in person. Would any other member like to testify on SCR 90? If not, we have no one to ask questions, so we'll move on right into the next item.

The lesson of the day, SCR 93, requesting Department of Hawaiian Homelands and Statewide Offices Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop coordinated support stabilization pathway for native Hawaiian beneficiaries experiencing homelessness or extremely low income. First up, we have the Department of Homeland Homelands in support in person. Thank you so much. Next, we have the Statewide Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions in support.

We stand up. Thank you so much.

And 200 individuals testifying in support. Members, any questions?

Questions, mister. Please go ahead.

For for DHL, please.

Thank you for being here.

I know DHL has had a history of helping beneficiaries who are on the wait list and those who are currently lessees to get ahead. Question, what kind of programs is digital currently doing without this kind of coordination, but currently doing by itself to help Hawaiians get ahead?

As our testimony outlined, we just commemorate Kaleopu Mamo, which seeks to provide transitional housing for about 18 beneficiaries. We would like to expand upon that, and this resolution is a great opportunity for us to partner with the right stakeholders and agencies that will enable us to do that.

And is there adequate funding from the legislature to do so, or do you folks utilize NAHASA funding as well?

We use a bit over $6,000,000 of NAHASA funds, federal funds for Hale'ioku. We do not currently have dedicated state funding for this

specific purpose. Got it. Okay. Thank you.

for being here. Good to see you. Just really curious, very aware of all of the programs. Just really curious how much OHA is partnering with DHHL as far as touching the beneficiaries, especially those on the wait list.

Thank you

At this time, we do not have a partnership with them for this specific purpose, but we would be open to that.

Yeah. I think they have some funding, especially around financial literacy to give other native ones that have that. Thanks. Thanks for being here.

No problem.

Thank you for DHS, DHHL. So I just wanted to clarify that beneficiaries, because I do know there's a difference between native Hawaiian lowercase n and native Hawaiian upper case n. And I just wanted to confirm that this program would be limited to those that have the blood quantum requirement of fifty percent. Correct. Okay. Is there any discussion on possibly extending it to native Hawaiians with a capital.

That discussion is not currently happening with Ohio's commission. No.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. No further questions, vice chair. Thank you.

No more questions. We will move on to decision making. We'll get started first with SCR 63 SD minutes.

I just wanted to mention that this first measure, the first resolution is a joint human services and homelessness and health community, resolution. The other ones are just human services and homelessness. So we'll start with this joint.

Thank you, Chair. So with this measure, I'd like to move you forward as is. Members, any questions, comments, concerns? If not, Chair,

We're voting on SCR 63 SD 1. Recommendation is to pass as is. Chair, Vice Chair, vote aye.

Member Amato, aye. Member Hartsfield, aye. Member Keohokapu-Lee Loy, aye.

Member Takayama, aye. Member Takenouchi, aye.

Member Alcos, aye. Member Garcia, aye. Your recommendation is adopted.

Vice Chair, Members, the Committee on Health Chairs, Vice Chair's recommendation is the same.

Chair Whiteman.

A voting on SCR 63 SD 1. Chair and Vice Chair, vote aye. Representative Amato, aye.

Representative Hartsfield, aye.

Representative Marten? Aye. Representative Olds, aye.

Representative Takenouchi, excused. Representative Alcos?

Aye.

Oh, I didn't hear you. Aye.

Representative Alcos, aye. Representative Garcia, aye.

Chair, your recommendation is set up.

Thank you, Chair. Moving on to SCR 8, urging the counties to act on any building permit applications for modification of residence that is prescribed by a licensed health care provider and followed by the county to be essential to the safety or health of an older adult or person with disability within forty five days of receipt of a complete application.

Members, I would like to move this forward, as is. Any questions, comments, concerns? If not, lets move it, Chair.

Thank you. Seeing all members are present, are there any no's? Any reservations? Your recommendation is effective.

Thank you, chair. Moving on next to SCR 160 urging the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Department of Human Services, homeless programs office, statewide office of homelessness and housing solutions, and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to create a housing ladder program to help individuals and families graduate into unsubsidized housing. Members, some of you do the testimony a little bit like this may already be happening.

But I do think that this is still a good resolution, and I would like to move it forward as it's any questions, comments, concerns? If not, chair for the board.

Any noes? Voting on SCR point 60. Are there any noes or reservations? Seeing none, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, chair. We're going next to SCR 90, requesting the plant department of each county to establish component friendly building permit requirements for parking accessibility and private business operating hours. I would like to move this forward, with an HD one, for technical amendments needed for clarity, consistency, and style. Members, any questions, comments, concerns?

Vice chair. Sorry.

Sorry. Question. Does the technical amendment include inserting the age of the kupuna?

I am not sure.

That would probably be a decision, not a technical amendment. Okay.

And then if I could just add to the comment. I'll be voting with reservations only because I would prefer that the minimum age of what a kupuna is be included to avoid any type of confusion.

Okay. Thank you, ma'am. Members, any other questions, comments, or concerns? If not, chair for the vote.

Okay. I'm voting aye, on SCR 90. Recommendation is to pass with amendments. Are there any members besides rep Hartsfield's reservation voting with reservations? Any no's?

Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, chair. Moving on to our final, SCR 93, requesting department of Hawaiian Homelands and Statewide Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop coordinates for stabilization pathway for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries experiencing homelessness, extremely low income. Members, I'd like to move this forward as is. Any question, comments, or concerns?

Just need a comment for the committee report that we ask OHA to help coordinate some of that data collection and partnerships and help develop those pathways with our native Hawaiian beneficiaries.

Thank you. Any other members, questions, concerns? If not, chair for the vote.

Voting on SERN 93. Recommendation is to pass as is. Are there any noes? Any reservations? Seeing none, your recommendation is adopted.

Sure. I know they can yield the chairmanship back to chair. Yeah. Was this out? Yeah.

I just wanna say because our last committee hearing, and I deeply appreciate those that come to testify on a regular basis and use your time. It's really useful for us to have that opportunity to hear from you and ask questions and really appreciate all the members as well for coming and and showing your interest in these important subjects that really help our population. So much appreciated, and with that, we are adjourned.