STAND. COM. REP. NO.  417-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2425

      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 Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2425 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SENIOR CENTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance the quality of life for seniors by providing grants to support the operations of the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, Kapahulu Center, Moiliili Community Center, and Waikiki Community Center.

     Catholic Charities Hawaii, Waikiki Community Center, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  Kapahulu Center supported this measure with amendments.  The Attorney General and Department of Human Services provided comments.

     The Attorney General stated that specific amounts need to be awarded as grants to each individual entity, rather than appropriating a lump sum to be split among several groups.  Testimony from several organizations suggested the following appropriation amounts: $170,000 for the Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, through Catholic Charities, $80,000 for the Kapahulu Center, $85,000 for Moiliili Community Center, and $81,000 for the Waikiki Community Center.  Additionally, several testifiers noted that the Department of Health is the appropriate expending agency.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Allowing for the insertion of appropriation amounts for each of the designated senior centers; and

     (2)  Changing the expending agency to the Department of Health.

     Other technical, nonsubstantive amendments were made for

clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2425, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2425, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Housing,

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair