Report Title:

Respite Services; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of health to provide for continued respite services for family caregivers.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	893
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to Health.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that respite care services provide necessary support for family caregivers of children and adults with disabilities.  The provision of respite from the physical and emotional strain of caring for a family member with a disability serves three purposes: (1) to prevent placing the child or adult to whom care is provided in a long‑term care facility; (2) to keep families intact; and (3) to prevent abuse and neglect.

     The legislature enacted Act 324, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, in order to meet the respite care needs of families in the State who care for family members with disabilities.  The Act appropriated $1,000,000 to the department of health to provide support services and training to families and caregivers who provide home-based care to individuals with disabilities, and for the establishment and development of respite care services for families providing home-based care for a family member who is: (1) an infant or toddler three years of age or younger; (2) an adult with a serious mental illness; (3) a child with a serious emotional disturbance; (4) a child with a serious or terminal illness; or (5) a child or adult with a developmental disability.

     Since 1990, the respite budget has been substantially reduced, leaving insufficient funding to assist the population targeted by Act 324.  Further reduction of the funding available for the provision of respite services would have an adverse impact on family caregivers of individuals with disabilities.

     The purpose of this Act is to reinstate funds that have been depleted by budget reductions in order to provide continued support for families of individuals with disabilities through the implementation of the department of health respite services program.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for implementation of a respite services program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.

INTRODUCED BY:

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