STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2907

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 25

       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.C.R. No. 25 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONVENING A TASK FORCE ON AGING TO STUDY THE NEED FOR AND FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A DEPARTMENT OF AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to convene a Task Force on Aging to study the need for and feasibility of establishing a state Department of Aging.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawai‘i Alliance for Retired Americans and Kokua Council.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Executive Office on Aging.  Comments on the measure were submitted by the Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that the population of Hawaii is aging at 2.5 times the national rate and that a statewide cabinet-level Department of Aging may be necessary to coordinate services and resources for the multi-faceted needs of the increasing number of older adults in the State. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Incorporating comments made by the Executive Office on Aging by extending the time frame allotted in which that office is to submit the required report to the Legislature from twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009 to twenty days prior to the adjournment of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     (2)  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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 25, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 25, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair