STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3680

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 164

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 164 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ACT 226, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2007, ON NURSE AIDES WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN STATE-CERTIFIED OR STATE-LICENSED HEALTH CARE SETTINGS TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO AMEND ACT 226, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2007,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a study on the impact of Act 226, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007 (Act 226), on nurse aides who are employed in state-certified or state-licensed health care settings to provide a basis for the Legislature to decide whether to amend Act 226.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Healthcare Association of Hawaii and the Hawaii Long Term Care Association.

     Your Committees find that Act 226 was enacted to provide for the certification and recertification of nurse aides who work in nursing facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs and in other state-licensed and state-certified health care settings.  Your Committees also find that Act 226 does not address the costs associated with the certification, recertification, and competency evaluation of the nurse aides in the State.  This measure will provide the Legislature with needed information on the impact of Act 226 on nurses aides, as well as information on funding sources that may be used to cover the costs of services required by Act 226, including the costs of recertification and competency evaluation.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 164, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________ RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair