HB2520 SD1

SECTION 1. Act 204, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, mandated the joint legislative committee on family caregiving, created by Act 285, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, to explore, among other things, alternative means of providing financial support for family caregivers in Hawaii. Pursuant thereto, a Family Caregiver Needs Assessment was prepared by a private contractor for the joint legislative committee. The assessment stated, in relevant part:

(1) It is estimated that nine per cent of caregivers in the United States quit their jobs to provide care;

(2) Caregiving affected employment of one-quarter of caregivers, mainly in reduced work hours or taking leaves of absence;

(3) A state income tax credit for caregivers has the greatest support among caregivers;

(4) Although caregivers are doing well overall in their ability to provide care, there are certain impacts on physical and mental health, finances, and employment, for up to thirty per cent of all caregivers; and

(5) Caregivers tend to have lower income than expected, especially given the high cost of living in Hawaii.

The purpose of this measure is to follow-up on the findings of the Family Caregiver Needs Assessment by convening a working group to explore various funding mechanisms that could potentially support caregivers.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a working group, to be under the joint legislative committee on aging in place, to explore various funding mechanisms that could potentially support caregivers, including but not limited to, income tax credits, temporary disability insurance benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, and the like.

(b) The members of the working group shall include representatives of the following entities to be selected by that entity:

(1) State department of taxation;

(2) Department of labor and industrial relations;

(3) Department of human services;

(4) Executive office on aging;

(5) National Federation of Independent Business;

(6) The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii;

(7) An economics professor or researcher at the University of Hawaii;

(8) Society for Human Resource Management;

(9) International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 142;

(10) Policy advisory board of elder affairs; and

(11) Hawaii Government Employees Association.

(d) The working group shall serve without compensation and shall receive no reimbursements for expenses.

(e) Administrative support for the working group shall be provided by the department of labor and industrial relations. Legislative drafting services shall be provided by the legislative reference bureau.

(f) The working group shall report its findings and recommendations, including legislative amendments, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2520
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 3
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1