STAND. COM. REP. NO.  507-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2517

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2517 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create Aging and Disability Resource Centers in each county to streamline access by providing a centralized location for long-term support and services for older adults, persons with disabilities, family caregivers, and providers.

The Governor; County of Hawaii Office on Aging; the Policy Board for Elder Affairs; Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter; Child & Family Service; American Association of Retired Persons; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and several concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Executive Office on Aging and the Maui County Office on Aging supported the measure with amendments.  The Disability and Communication Access Board supported the intent of the measure.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding preamble language with references to government and private support for Aging and Disability Resource Center Program, and the advantages of centralized data collection;

     (2)  Amending definitions of "aging and disability resource center", "area agency on aging", "dementia", and "options counseling";

     (3)  Adding Kupuna Care to the list of programs and services that can be accessed by the public through the Aging and Disability Resource Center;

     (4)  Adding a provision that allows for a centralized application process for publically funded long-term support and services that can be accessed by the public though the Aging and Disability Resource Center;

     (5)  Specifying that the executive office on aging shall coordinate the implementation of the statewide Aging and Disability Resource Center Program;

     (6)  Specifying that the area agencies on aging shall implement the statewide Aging and Disability Resource Center program within their respective geographic service area; and

     (7)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2517, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2517, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair