STAND. COM. REP. NO.  157-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2289

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2289 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve safety and services for residents of long-term care facilities by expanding the long-term care ombudsman program by adding three additional ombudsman positions, one for each neighboring county.

     The National Association of Social Workers, ILWU Local 142, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  AARP supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Health and Executive Office on Aging submitted comments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

(1)  Repealing the requirement that written consent be acquired from a resident of a long-term care facility or the resident's legal representative prior to the long-term care ombudsman gaining access to the resident's records; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2289, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2289, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing,

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair