Report Title:

Caregiving; Emergency and Evening Respite Care

Description:

Appropriates funds for the executive office on aging to develop and implement an emergency and evening respite care pilot program.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1206
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
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 190,000 individuals in the State provide regular care or assistance to older adults age sixty and older.  Many frail and disabled elders depend on the care that they receive from caregivers, many of whom are friends or relatives who are not paid for the caregiving services that they provide.  There are times when a caregiver may unexpectedly become unable to provide the needed caregiving services due to illness, an accident, or other reasons.  It is at these times that emergency respite care becomes critical.  Respite care is also important during the evening when services or support is generally less available from others.

     The legislature further finds that the provision of respite care during the evening and on an emergency basis is important to ensure that frail and disabled elders receive necessary care when their caregivers are unavailable.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the executive office on aging to develop and implement a pilot program to provide emergency and evening respite care for older adults who are age sixty and older with physical or cognitive disabilities.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The executive office on aging shall develop and implement a pilot program to provide emergency and evening respite care for older adults who are age sixty and older with physical or cognitive disabilities.  In developing the pilot program, the executive office on aging shall consult with the aging network.

     (b)  The executive office on aging shall submit an interim report, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session, and shall submit a final report, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 regular session.

     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 pilot program to provide emergency and evening respite care for older adults 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 on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________