STAND. COM. REP. NO.  707

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 822

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 822 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to assist caregivers by providing a grant-in-aid to each county to design a family caregiver grant program to provide grants to caregivers who are caring for persons who are aged, infirm, or disabled.

     The Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu and an individual submitted testimony in support.  The Hawaii Aging Advocates Coalition supported the intent of the measure and the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living expressed reservations.

     Your Committees find that goods and services needed by caregivers are not readily available from other sources.  Your Committees further find that grants to caregivers would provide the flexibility needed to better meet the comprehensive needs of caregivers as well as care recipients.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 822 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing,

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair