Bill Text: HI SB962 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Intellectual Disabilities

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB962 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SB962-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 572

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 962

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 962 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHANGING REFERENCES IN THE HAWAII REVISED STATUTES FROM "MENTAL RETARDATION" TO "INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY","

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to change references in the Hawaii Revised Statutes by substituting "intellectual disabilities", or like term, wherever the term "mental retardation", or like term, appears.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Kauai Developmental Disabilities Committee, Maui Developmental Disabilities Committee, Disability and Communication Access Board, Special Education Advisory Council, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Easter Seals Hawai‘i, Opportunities and Resources Inc., and twenty-four individuals.

 

Your Committee finds that individuals with intellectual disabilities are people first, and they have the right to be included and respected in society.  Changing references from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" within the Hawaii Revised Statutes appropriately reflects current and evolving terminology.

 

Your Committee also finds that the term "intellectual disability" is recognized by the federal government and implemented through federal laws and regulations.  Hawaii will join the country and professional organizations that have changed their language from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability", and in doing so, respect people first.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 962, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 962, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

		____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair