STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1787

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 136

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 136 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I AT MANOA COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES PUBLIC POLICY CENTER TO CONDUCT A COST‑BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR A FAMILY CAREGIVER TAX CREDIT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences Public Policy Center to conduct a cost‑benefit analysis for a family caregiver tax credit.

     The Kokua Council, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Hawaii Aging Advocates Coalition, the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure as amended.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the purpose and content of the measure from requesting the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences Public Policy Center to conduct a cost‑benefit analysis for a family caregiver tax credit to urging the Governor to appoint an interim director for the Executive Office on Aging until a permanent director is appointed; and

     (2)  Amending the title of the measure to reflect the change in purpose and content.

     Your Committees find that the Director of the Executive Office on Aging is instrumental in ensuring that Hawaii satisfies its mandated responsibilities to its elderly population pursuant to the federal Older Americans Act.  The Governor is responsible for nominating and appointing the Director of the Executive Office on Aging.  However, the position has been vacant since December 5, 2006.  It is imperative that a qualified individual be appointed to the position as soon as possible to provide stewardship regarding, among other things, services, legislation, policies, and funding.

     It is the Committees' intent to urge the Governor to appoint an interim director for the Executive Office on Aging until a permanent director is appointed.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 136, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 136, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair