SB1205 SD1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1205
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to caregiving.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that over two hundred forty thousand Hawaii residents are age sixty or older. Family caregivers provide care for a large percentage of these older adults, who overwhelmingly prefer to live and receive care in their homes. However, there are also many older adults who need care, but do not have family living in Hawaii who can assist them.

As the baby boomer generation ages, the percentage of older adults in the community will increase. By 2020, it is projected that more than one in four individuals will be age sixty or older. As a result, paid caregiving services, including those in institutional settings, will become even less available and less affordable to the older adult population. The legislature finds that the level of volunteer caregiving provided to older adults will have to increase substantially to serve the increased number of older adults with caregiving needs.

The legislature further finds that many Hawaii residents volunteer their time for the benefit of others, and a structured program that offers credit to them for their volunteered caregiving hours could substantially increase the level of caregiving services available to older adults. Programs that encourage volunteer reciprocity among residents have been successful in Florida and Missouri, and provide a model for Hawaii to replicate.

Programs that encourage reciprocity among residents have been successful at over two hundred fifty time banks in the United States. Programs are currently operating in twenty-two countries on six continents. For example, residents who volunteer time to provide caregiving services, such as transportation or chore services, could receive a credit for each volunteer hour provided. Accumulated volunteer-hours could then be used by the caregiver to acquire services that they need or donated by the caregiver to another person. This type of program encourages residents to volunteer to help others by enabling them to bank their volunteer-hours for their own future use. Time banking is a social change movement that would help to improve the infrastructure of our families, neighborhoods, and communities. Time banks help to identify people in the communities to partner with and values and rewards their contributions.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the executive office on aging to develop and implement a volunteer-hours exchange pilot program.

SECTION 2. (a) The executive office on aging shall develop and implement a volunteer-hours exchange pilot program.

(b) In designing and implementing the volunteer-hours exchange pilot program, the executive office on aging shall:

(1) Research best practices, including how similar programs have been designed and implemented in other states, such as Florida and Missouri, and other countries;

(2) Consult with community stakeholders; and

(3) Implement the program in two communities.

SECTION 3. 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 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the executive office on aging to develop and implement a volunteer-hours exchange pilot program pursuant to section 2.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.