STAND. COM. REP. NO.  723

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 739

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 739, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide quality care for the elderly and disabled by amending the definition of "community care foster family home" to include the requirement that the primary caregiver must be a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and the substitute caregiver must be a Nurse Aide (NA) for community care foster family homes approved for a maximum of three clients.

     The Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Alliance of Residential Care Administrators, Filipinos for Affirmative Action, The Primary Care Providers, Lou's Quality Home Health Care Services, LLC, Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Filipino American Citizens League, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) testified in opposition to this measure.  Several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Some Filipino NAs who speak English as a second language, while skilled and well trained, experience a language barrier when taking the required 24-hour examination for a CNA license.  Your Committee urges DHS to consider language access issues pertaining to the administration of the required 24-hour examination.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  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 H.B. No. 739, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 739, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair