STAND. COM. REP. NO.  297-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2196

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.B. No. 2196, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAREGIVING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to support the work of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving (JLCFC) to ensure the necessary community resources for caregivers by, among other things:

(1)  Extending the term of JLCFC to June 30, 2009;

(2)  Changing JLCFC's name to the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place (JLCAP);

(3)  Expanding JLCAP's mandate to include aging in place issues as they relate to family caregiving;

(4)  Requiring JLCAP to conduct a cash and counseling project for non-Medicaid eligible elders;

(5)  Authorizing the Kupuna Care Program to expand its services, including emergency, overnight, and weekend respite services; and

(6)  Making appropriations to support these efforts.

     The Hawaii Aging Advocates Coalition, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Kokua Council, ILWU Local 142, Project Dana, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Hawaii County Office of Aging, Maui County Executive on Aging, and several individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Executive Office on Aging supported the intent of this measure.  The Attorney General (AG) offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Specifying that JLCAP shall design rather than conduct the cash and counseling project.  According to the AG, a state agency may be a more appropriate choice to actually implement the project rather than a legislative entity; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2196, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2196, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Legislative Management,

____________________________

MICHAEL Y. MAGAOAY, Chair