STAND. COM. REP. NO.  955

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 102

      S.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 102, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ELDERLY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to better protect elderly individuals from financial abuse by:

     (1)  Requiring financial institutions to report suspected financial abuse of an elder to the appropriate county police department as well as to the Department of Human Services and specifying means of reporting;

     (2)  Requiring the county police department to proceed with a criminal investigation upon notification by a financial institution of suspected financial abuse; and

     (3)  Clarifying the definition of financial abuse.

The Department of Human Services and a few individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Executive Office on Aging supported the intent of this measure.  The University of Hawaii commented on the measure.

     Your Committee notes that the compelling testimony of individuals describing financial abuse of elder family members demonstrates the growing problem of financial abuse of elders and the need for regulations to protect our elderly population.

     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. 102, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

MELE CARROLL, Chair