STAND. COM. REP. NO. 382

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1188

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1188 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure delivery of long term care to the State's elderly and disabled.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates $370,000, for fiscal year 2007-2008, and $230,000, for fiscal year 2008-2009, to supplement the development of the aging and disability resource center being developed by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii County Office of Aging, and the City and County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii County Office of Aging, Center on the Family, Hawaii Aging Advocates Coalition, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Long Term Care Coalition, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hospice of Hilo, Kokua Council, Project Dana, and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds the delivery of long term care in Hawaii has been uncoordinated, resulting in difficulty for consumers to obtain information about options and services.  Community resource centers for the elderly and disabled will help empower our residents to make informed choices, which can be very difficult given the multiple agencies and organizations involved.  These centers will streamline access to in-home care, community-based programs, and institutional services available to meet their needs.

     Your Committee, therefore, finds the appropriations made in this measure are important to the public's interest and will enable the continuation and expansion of services begun under the federal Department of Health and Human Services 2005 grant.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1188 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair