STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1420

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 23

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 Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 23 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING EACH COUNTY TO EXAMINE ITS CURRENT ZONING LAWS, BUILDING CODES, AND SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS AND ELIMINATE ENCUMBRANCES TO FAMILY CAREGIVING AND AGING IN PLACE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request each county to examine its current zoning laws, building codes, and subdivision requirements and eliminate encumbrances to family caregiving and aging in place.

     AARP Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committees find that in 2000, individuals age sixty and older represented seventeen per cent of Hawaii's total population.  It is estimated that this group will represent twenty‑five per cent of Hawaii's total population by the year 2020.  The vast majority of Hawaii's older residents prefer to age in place in lieu of costly institutionalized care elsewhere.  Local communities must be prepared to accommodate the aging population and support their ability to age in place in their homes and communities.  This measure requests the counties to examine their current zoning laws, building codes, and subdivision requirements so that encumbrances to family caregiving and aging in place can be eliminated.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 23 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair