STAND. COM. REP. NO. 464

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 128
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.B. No. 128 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ESTABLISH A
     LONG TERM CARE VOLUNTEER OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation to
establish a long term care volunteer ombudsman program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Executive Office on Aging (EOA), Policy Advisory Board
for Elder Affairs, American Association of Retired Persons,
Hawaii Long Term Care Association, and Hawaii Women Lawyers.  The
Healthcare Association of Hawaii submitted testimony with
comments.

     The long term care ombudsman program is a federally mandated
program which is funded through the Older Americans Act of 1965.
The program serves as an advocate for residents in licensed
nursing facilities and adult care homes, especially those unable
or afraid to speak for themselves.  The program currently has two
full-time positions covering 46 nursing homes and 542 adult care
homes on six islands.  This measure appropriates funds to pay
travel and miscellaneous expenses for volunteer staff.

     Your Committee has amended this measure on the
recommendation of the EOA by inserting statistics regarding
affected populations.

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 464
                                   Page 2



     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 128, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 128,
S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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