STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1027

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 817

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 817 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAGE PLUS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist people receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits, as well as their families, caregivers, and people on the verge of retirement by appropriating funds for operating costs to support and expand the Sage PLUS Program on the neighbor islands.

     The ILWU Local 142, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Kokua Council, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, and National Multiple Sclerosis Society testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health and Executive Office on Aging supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriations to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 817, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 817, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair