STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3067

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1695

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1695, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Increase the state supplemental payment for adult residential care homes, licensed developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, and certified adult foster homes; and

     (2)  Change the percentage of the percentage of the federal poverty level upon which public assistance allowance is based.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Adult Foster Homes of the Pacific, Big Island Adult Foster Home Operators, United Group of Home Operators, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that adult residential care homes and other domiciliary care facilities continue to fulfill an important need in the community because of the increased reliance on residential health care services and facilities for Hawaii's growing aging population.  Your Committee further finds that the state supplemental payment for adult residential care homes, licensed developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, and certified adult foster homes was last increased in 2008, yet the costs of operating these facilities continue to rise.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 H.B. No. 1695, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1695, H.D. 1, 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