STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2473

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3255

       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 Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 3255 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a Long Term Care Commission to research what resources are necessary to meet state long term care public policy goals.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Maui County Executive on Aging, AARP Hawaii, and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.  Comments in opposition to a section of the measure were submitted by the State Procurement Office. 

     Your Committee finds that as Hawaii's population ages, there will be an overwhelming demand for long term care services.  In order to meet that need in a predictable and sustainable way, an array of services will need to be coordinated and maintained by a central authority.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Outlining in greater detail the long term care policy goals of the State;

     (2)  Amending the required experience section of commission members;

     (3)  Removing the five formerly stated goals for the commission program; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

     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. 3255, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3255, S.D. 1, 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