Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2804 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for the Executive Office on Aging (EOA) to develop a volunteer hours exchange program and to fund two pilot projects.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the EOA.

Your Committees find that this measure is intended to facilitate volunteering services to help elders. Many Hawaii residents volunteer their time to benefit others.

Your Committees find that a structured program that credits volunteers for donated hours would substantially increase the level of volunteer activity and address community needs, including child care and long-term care for the elderly.

A volunteer-hours exchange program allocates a credit for each hour of service that a person volunteers. The credits can be exchanged for a service that a person needs or a person can donate credits to another person. For instance, a person would receive a credit for providing transportation services to an elderly person in need. The person can then use the credit to obtain chore services or donate the credit to someone else in need of services. These programs support, encourage, and coordinate reciprocity among residents. Similar programs known as time dollar programs are being conducted successfully in Florida and Missouri and can serve as models. This measure would set up a pilot program on Hawaii county in conjunction with the retired and senior volunteer program, and a program on Oahu in conjunction with Project Dana.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2804 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.