STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2671

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3050

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 3050, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the list of persons mandated to promptly report to the Department of Human Services known or suspected abuse of dependent adults to:

     (1)  Employees or officers of the entity or agency designated by the Governor to provide advocacy services to persons with developmental disabilities and mental illness in order to receive federal funds authorized by 42 U.S.C. sections 10801 and 15001;

     (2)  Social workers; and

     (3)  Caregivers who know or have reason to believe that a dependent adult has been abused and is threatened with imminent abuse.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; State Council on Developmental Disability; and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.  The National Association of Social Workers supported the intent of this measure.

     This measure defines "caregiver" as any person who has undertaken the care, custody, or physical control of, or who has a legal or contractual duty to care for the health, safety, and welfare of a dependent adult.  Your Committee finds that the dependent adults in our community may be subjected to abuse and neglect and deserve to be afforded the maximum protection possible, and that this measure would strengthen the protection provided.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3050, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair