STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1274

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 817

       H.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 817, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Sage PLUS program to expand services to the neighbor islands and to support the program's operating costs.

     The Department of Health submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The Hawai‘i Alliance for Retired Americans, Kokua Council, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that the Sage PLUS program provides assistance to people receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits, as well as their families, caregivers, and people on the verge of retirement.  This measure seeks to expand the Sage PLUS program and support its operating costs so that those in need can continue to benefit from what the program offers.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 817, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Public Housing,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair