REPORT TITLE:
Home/Community Based Services


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds to eliminate the waitlist for the home- and
community-based services waiver program.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2159
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO INCREASE HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED
   CARE SERVICES.


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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State's home- and
 
 2 community-based services waiver program prevents or delays
 
 3 institutionalism of persons with disabilities.  The waiver
 
 4 program has been especially helpful for families, the largest
 
 5 group of caregivers, who find it difficult to maintain their
 
 6 supportive roles due to aging caretaking parents or the need for
 
 7 more than one family member to work.
 
 8      However, although no cuts have been made to the waiver
 
 9 program, no new moneys have been provided to help the more than
 
10 six hundred people who continue to wait for these services.
 
11 According to the department of health, the waitlist for the
 
12 waiver program dates back to 1982.
 
13      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to eliminate
 
14 the waitlist for Hawaii's home- and community-based services
 
15 waiver program.
 
16      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
17 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $11,200,000 or so much
 
18 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001 to expand
 

 
Page 2                                                     2159
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 the home- and community-based services waiver program to
 
 2 accommodate individuals waiting for these services.
 
 3      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
 4 department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
 
 5      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.
 
 6 
 
 7                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________