STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1085

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 6

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 6 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES TO MAKE APPROPRIATE EXEMPTIONS FOR GRANDPARENTS CARING FOR GRANDCHILDREN TO REMAIN IN SENIOR HOUSING UNTIL SUITABLE HOUSING IS OBTAINED,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that:

     (1)  All public and private senior housing agencies identify all residents who are sole or primary caretakers for a grandchild; and

     (2)  Each agency make appropriate exemptions in policies, procedures, and house rules to allow seniors who provide sole or primary care for one or more grandchildren to remain in their rental unit until more suitable housing is obtained.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club and two individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committees may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that The 2007 Needs Assessment of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren reports that over 14,000 grandparents in Hawaii are primary caregivers for over 33,000 grandchildren, and it is estimated that they save the State approximately $17,000,000 per month by caring for their grandchildren outside the foster care system.  In addition to direct care, these grandparents play an important part in ensuring the wellbeing of the grandchildren.

     Your Committees further find that it would benefit both managers and all residents of senior housing to clarify procedures that allow grandparents to remain in senior housing while caring for a grandchild or grandchildren.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical amendments for clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 6, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 6, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Education and Housing,

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair