STAND. COM. REP. NO. 297

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 103

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 103 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 require the Executive Office on Aging of the Department of Health to conduct an education and awareness campaign on long term care and have the campaign independently evaluated for effectiveness.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, County of Hawaii Office on Aging, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Community Alliance for Mental Health, AARP Hawaii, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Americans with multiple, chronic health conditions and increased rates of disability in old age are living longer now than in the past.  Furthermore, there will be a greater need for long term care in the future as Hawaii's population ages.  Between 2007 and 2030, the population aged eighty-five and older, which has the greatest need for long term care, will increase by almost two-thirds.  However, many people in Hawaii lack sufficient knowledge or are misinformed about the need for and cost of long term care.  Your Committee finds that this measure will improve the ability of people in Hawaii to adequately plan for their long term care needs.

     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. 103 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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