HB2199

SECTION 1. The legislature established the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving (JLCFC) pursuant to Act 285, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2006, and JLCFC was further extended to June 30, 2008, under Act 204, SLH 2007 (Act 204). JLCFC has been diligent in its role to strengthen support to family caregivers through various means. One of these means of support is respite care.

The Legislative Reference Bureau conducted a study pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 187, adopted during the regular session of 2007 (H.C.R. No. 187), on how other states address the issue of respite care. The report indicated that respite has been shown to be beneficial in lowering stress and other negative consequences of caregiving. Additionally, a comprehensive family caregiver needs assessment conducted pursuant to Act 204 also indicated that respite care is one of the top choices of assistance that caregivers feel would be helpful.

Respite care can relieve the everyday stress of providing round-the-clock care. However, there are times when emergency respite care becomes critical when a family caregiver is unexpectedly unable to provide care because of illness, an accident, or other reasons.

More needs to be done to determine the full inventory of respite care providers and the specific types of respite care provided in the state. The types of respite care can include planned respite care, short term respite, or emergency respite care. Additionally, although respite services may be available, caregivers are not always aware that such services are available, or may not know where to go to seek assistance.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the executive office on aging to continue its respite inventory project pursuant to H.C.R. No. 187, in collaboration with the university of Hawaii at Manoa school of social work.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the executive office on aging, in collaboration with the university of Hawaii school of social work, to:

(1) Continue to conduct an inventory of the respite services in Hawaii;

(2) Establish a definition of "respite care";

(3) Establish more detailed descriptions of each of the various types of respite services provided in the state; and

(4) Review the legislative reference bureau's 2007 report on respite policies in other states to identify the most promising approaches for Hawaii to support expanding respite services, including how much support is financed, what types of respite are provided and to whom, and who performs the respite services.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health, executive office on aging, for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2199
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII