STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1686-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2857

      S.D. 2

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure standards of quality for the growing home care industry by:

(1)  Requiring home care agencies to be licensed by the Department of Health (DOH); and

(2)  Appropriating funds for a position in DOH to assist with licensure and monitoring of home care agencies.

     DOH and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported this bill.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Clarifying that the exemption from home care agency licensure applies to a home- or community-based service provided under the jurisdiction of DHS, rather than an agency or entity that provides services;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair