STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1676

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 190

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 190, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to permit the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a two-year demonstration project allowing two private-pay individuals sharing specified relationships to occupy the same community care foster family home under certain conditions.

     Several concerned individuals supported this bill.  DHS provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Including language that would allow individuals under the demonstration project to continue their arrangements once the project is concluded;

     (2)  Clarifying that there must have been a minimum of three vacant beds available for Medicaid clients at other community care foster family homes;

     (3)  Clarifying that one member of the private-pay couple must have resided at the community care foster family home for at least five consecutive years preceding the second member of the private-pay couple entering the same community care foster family home;

     (4)  Specifying that the member of the private-pay couple who has been residing in the community care foster family home must have a medical condition that prevents the individual from being moved;

     (5)  Requiring DHS to report its findings regarding the demonstration project to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2011; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 190, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 190, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair