STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1347

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LONG TERM CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the public's awareness of long-term care options.

     More specifically, this measure requires and appropriates funds for the Executive Office on Aging of the Department of Health to administer a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care and obtain an independent evaluation of the campaign.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging; Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs; Executive on Aging, County of Hawaii; AARP Hawaii; Community Alliance for Mental Health; Hawaii Family Caregiver's Coalition; ILWU Local 142; and seven concerned individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one concerned individual.

     Your Committee finds that between 2007 and 2030, the population aged eighty-five and older in Hawaii will increase by almost two-thirds.  This population is in greatest need of long-term care and it generally has limited or erroneous knowledge of long-term care issues, including the types and providers of long-term care services available.  This measure would educate people about the potential need for long-term care and motivate people to begin planning for that potential need.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair