Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1021 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a three-year service credit exchange pilot project within the Executive Office on Aging, and appropriate funds for training programs and operations.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Project Dana, the Waikiki Community Center, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that with limited funds, government alone cannot meet all the needs of Hawaii's communities and its citizens, especially in a state that faces an increasingly aging population. The State is in need of alternative measures to balance costly social service programs. Under a system of service credit exchange, exchange members provide needed services to other members while earning service credit exchanges at the rate of one credit per hour spent in service, to be used for future purchases of services from fellow exchange members for themselves or donated to others. Thus, your Committee believes that the use of service credit exchanges in Hawaii can facilitate the provision of social services to those in need while minimizing the use of tax dollars, promoting volunteerism, and strengthening and empowering our communities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1021 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.