STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1398

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 96

       S.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 S.R. No. 96 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO STUDY OTHER STATES' ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND COMPARE THEM TO HAWAII'S ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to study other states' adult protective services and compare them to Hawaii's adult protective services.

     The National Association of Social Workers submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments.

     In Hawaii, adult protective services provides crisis intervention, investigation, and emergency services to dependent adults who are reported to be abused, neglected, or financially exploited by others or seriously endangered due to self‑neglect.  Concerns have been raised by stakeholders and others in the community regarding whether the strict criteria under Hawaii's Adult Protective Services Law prevents the Department of Human Services from investigating reports for those who are most in need of services.

     As noted by the National Association of Social Workers, questions exist regarding what population is most in need of services and how, if at all, the State's Adult Protective Services Law should be amended to provide services to that population.  Also, questions remain regarding at what point the State should intervene and offer services.  This measure will provide information regarding how other states implement their adult protective services and offer Hawaii a point of comparison in determining whether and how to expand its adult protective services.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding two additional clauses regarding the estimated increase in Hawaii's older adult population;

     (2)  Deleting the request that the Legislative Reference Bureau discuss the consequences of any expansion of services or changes to adult protective services laws in the various states to make the study more manageable; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 96, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 96, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair