STAND. COM. REP. 936
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: S.B. No. 1061
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1061, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to:
(1) Statutorily establish licensing qualifications and requirements for Type I and Type II adult residential care homes (ARCHs); and
(2) Require the Department of Health (DOH) to conduct unannounced inspections on ARCHs and expanded ARCHs.
The Judiciary, AARP Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Long Term Care Association, Kokua Council, Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs, National Association of Social Workers, State Long Term Care Ombudsman, a member of the Maui Council, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.
The United Group of Home Operators, Hawaii Coalition of Care Home Administrators, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure. DOH and several concerned individuals submitted comments.
Your Committees find that ARCHs play an integral role in providing long-term care services in Hawaii. Hawaii is facing a long-term care crisis, with a rapidly aging society and not enough service providers to care for these individuals. While your Committees believe that it is essential to find the means to provide services and to encourage caring and competent individuals to establish ARCHs, your Committees believe it is equally important to ensure the safety of the individuals living in ARCHs.
Your Committees note that while most ARCHs are operated efficiently and safely, there is a need for mechanisms to ensure the health and safety of ARCH residents. It is not the intent of your Committees to penalize diligent ARCH operators. Your Committees believe that ARCHs that demonstrate exemplary care and management of their operations in a consistent manner should be exempt from some of the annual inspections at the discretion of DOH.
Your Committees have amended this bill by deleting its contents and inserting language that:
(1) Establishes a Type IA ARCH that allows five or fewer ARCH residents, with no more than two requiring nursing facility-level care unless allowed by DOH;
(2) Authorizes DOH to establish criteria for Type IA facility operators;
(3) Specifies that DOH shall conduct various types of announced and unannounced visits and inspections pertaining to Type I, Type II, and expanded ARCHs; and
(4) Authorizes DOH to waive annual inspections at its discretion.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1061, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1061, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Housing,
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____________________________ MICHAEL PUAMAMO KAHIKINA, Chair |
____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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