HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	305
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO SURVEY OTHER STATES to determine how nursing facilities in rural areas address their transportation and parking issues related to the transport of nursing facility residents.

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, forty-nine nursing facilities house 4,257 of the most frail and vulnerable elderly and disabled residents in the State; and

     WHEREAS, eighteen of those facilities are on neighbor islands, housing 1,527 elderly and disabled; and

     WHEREAS, based on federal and state guidelines, the elderly are required to receive mandatory follow-up visits for their various medical needs, including visits related to skin, gastroenterology, cancer, foot, dental, eye, and ear ailments, and visits for chemotherapy, radiation, x-rays, and other treatment; and

     WHEREAS, while nursing facilities on Oahu enjoy the luxury of various options to transport their elderly patients, neighbor island nursing facilities need to equip their own vehicles, including vans, to accommodate wheelchairs and gurneys to transport elders to all their appointments; and

     WHEREAS, to park in handicapped stalls, current law requires nursing facilities in Hawaii to apply for a removable windshield placard for disabled persons for each facility resident transported in a van--a practice that burdens county staff, physicians' offices, and nursing facility offices; and

     WHEREAS, furthermore, current law limits the issuance of special license plates or removable windshield placards only to persons with disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, this system poses a hardship on nursing facilities with limited staff and resources and places the elderly or disabled resident at risk of missing appointments that are vital to their health and well-being; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to survey nursing facilities in other states to determine how nursing facilities in rural areas address their transportation and parking issues related to the transport of nursing facility residents; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to consult with the Disability and Communication Access Board; Long-Term Care Social Workers of Hawaii; National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter; Nursing Facility Administrators; and the Hawaii State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, as necessary; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit a report on the results of the survey, including any necessary proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Disability and Communication Access Board; Long-Term Care Social Workers of Hawaii; National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter; Nursing Facility Administrators; and the Hawaii State Long-Term Care Ombudsman are requested to meet to discuss an alternative solution to the transportation and parking problems of nursing facilities and make recommendations, including proposed legislation, at the state and county levels, as appropriate, to the Legislature and the appropriate county council no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009 and twenty days prior to the convening of the appropriate county council 2009 legislative session; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau; the Hawaii State Long-Term Care Ombudsman; the Chairperson of the Disability and Communication Access Board, who in turn, is requested to transmit copies to the head of the Long-Term Care Social Workers of Hawaii; the head of the Nursing Facilities Administrators; and the Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Parking/Transport; Rural Area Nursing Facilities; Survey