STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3371
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 2196
H.D. 2
S.D. 2
Honorable Colleen Hanabusa
President of the Senate
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2008
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2196, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAREGIVING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to create and amend a number of mandates concerning the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving.
Specifically, this measure:
(1) Changes the name of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving to the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place (Committee);
(2) Permits the Committee to explore issues of "aging in place" as they relate to family caregiving;
(3) Requires the Hawaii Aging and Disability Resource Center to update the Committee regarding the development and implementation of the physical site for the center in the county of Hawaii and the virtual site for the center in the city and county of Honolulu;
(4) Extends the Committee until June 30, 2009;
(5) Requires the Committee to design a model cash and counseling program for non-Medicaid participants and permits the Committee to contract with a qualified consultant to assist the Committee;
(6) Authorizes the Kupuna Care Program to offer emergency, overnight, and weekend respite services and provide grants for home modifications and family caregivers;
(7) Establishes a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Task Force to focus on that population's needs; and
(8) Appropriates funds:
(A) For the Committee to design a model cash and counseling program for non-Medicaid participants;
(B) To expand the Kupuna Care Program and address its waitlist; and
(C) For the Executive Office on Aging, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii School of Social Work, to continue its inventory of respite services in Hawaii.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, AARP Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Catholic Charities of Hawaii, Hawaii Aging Advocates, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Kokua Council, Project Dana, Waikiki Health Center, and two concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.
Your Committee finds that due to a shortage of care providers in Hawaii, family caregiving has become a critical element of the State's health and long-term care system. By 2020, more than one in four individuals in the State is expected to be sixty years old or older. The need for personal care assistance due to physical, sensory, cognitive, and self-care disabilities increases with age. As Hawaii's population ages, many more families will be providing higher levels of long-term care to frail and disabled older adults at home. Your Committee further finds that this measure helps to strengthen support for family caregivers.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying that the task force shall be convened by its co-chairs;
(2) Clarifying that the head of each enumerated agency or organization shall designate its representative to the task force, except that the Executive Office on Aging shall appoint the individual who is a grandparent;
(3) Changing the effective date of the measure to June 29, 2008; provided that sections 5, 8, 9, 10, and 14 shall take effect on July 1, 2008; and
(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2196, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2196, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair |
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