STAND. COM. REP. NO.  413

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 828

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 828 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to test the feasibility of allowing recipients of Medicaid personal care services or home- and community–based services to:

     (1)  Receive a flexible monthly allowance; and

     (2)  Decide on the services they want to receive and who should provide these services,

by directing the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a "cash and counseling" pilot program.  This bill also appropriates an unspecified sum to develop and implement this program.

     Hawaii Centers for Independent Living testified in support of this bill.  DHS, the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and Hawaii Aging Advocates Coalition supported the intent of this measure.

     While this bill undergoes further review, your Committee respectfully requests DHS to examine the self directed waiver programs in Montana and Kansas.

     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. 828 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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