STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1279

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1916

      S.D. 2

      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 Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1916, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAREGIVING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to strengthen support of family caregiving by:

     (1)  Extending the life of the joint legislative committee on family caregiving (joint committee);

     (2)  Providing a broader definition of "family caregiver";

     (3)  Authorizing the joint committee to explore establishing a paid family leave program under the state temporary disability insurance law;

     (4)  Requiring the Executive Office on Aging to conduct a comprehensive assessment of care recipients' needs and the needs of their family caregivers;

     (5)  Appropriating funds to expand the Kupuna Care Program's in-home and access services for qualified care recipients; and

     (6)  Appropriating funds to expand services to family caregivers who often need assistance, education, and support to continue to care for their loved ones at home.

     The Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Office of Aging of the County of Hawaii, Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii, Kokua Council, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association – Retired, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Hawaii Aging Advocates Coalition, Kilohana Senior Enrichment Center, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and ILWU Local 142 supported this bill.  The Department of Health submitted comments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

(1)  Inserting an appropriation for the Executive Office on Aging to conduct an assessment of the issues facing, and the needs of, grandparents raising grandchildren in Hawaii;

(2)  Expanding the definition of "family caregivers" to include those persons caring for a person 18 years-of-age or older with physical or cognitive disabilities;

(3)  Directing that funds for the Executive Office on Aging be for:

(A)  Expansion of the Kupuna Care Program's in-home and access services to qualified care recipients; and

(B)  Direct services to family caregivers;

     and

 (4) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 1916, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1916, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Legislative Management.

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