STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2099

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2320

       S.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2320 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Aging and Disability Resource Center in the Executive Office on Aging and to make an appropriation to the Department of Health for the kupuna care program, the healthy aging partnership program, senior centers, and elder registration services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health's Executive Office on Aging; the Elderly Affairs Division of the Department of Community Services, City and County of Honolulu; the Agency on Elderly Affairs, County of Kauai; the County Council, County of Maui; the Maui County Office on Aging of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns, County of Maui; AARP; the Alzheimer's Association – Aloha Chapter; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Child and Family Service; the Consumer Family & Youth Alliance; the Healthcare Association; the ILWU Local 142; the Moiliili Community Center; the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; the Waikiki Community Center; and thirty-one individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the growing elderly population in Hawaii requires a significant amount of assistance, which the elderly receive through programs and services such as kupuna care, the healthy aging partnership program, and senior centers.  These programs and facilities assist older persons in leading independent, meaningful, and dignified lives in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.  Your Committee also finds that the elder registration services will allow direct access to wanderer and caregiver personal information and emergency contact information.

     Your Committee further finds that the disability component of the Aging and Disability Resource Center falls outside of the scope of the title of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that establishes the Aging and Disability Resource Center;

     (2)  Adding background information on the kupuna care program and emphasizing the need for affordable long-term care due to the financial burden that comes with elder care;

     (3)  Inserting the legal names of the nonprofit organizations currently operating the senior centers for which grants are being made pursuant to this measure; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2320, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2320, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair