STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3059

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1713

       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. 1713 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide funding to support services necessary for the health and well-being of Hawaii's kupuna and require the Executive Office on Aging to conduct a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging; Department of Community Services, City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii County Office of Aging; Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; AARP Hawaii; Aloha United Way; American Council of Life Insurers; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans; Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition; Hawaii Primary Care Association; International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 Hawaii; PHOCUSED; Project Dana; Child and Family Service; Lanakila Pacific; Zonta Club of Hilo; and eleven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's aging population is increasing at a rapid rate, and programs and services are needed to maintain the health and welfare of Hawaii's seniors and their caregivers.  Your Committee further finds that the most successful programs for aging in place recognize and build upon integrated health and social services.  Your Committee recognizes the importance of educating Hawaii's residents with information about long-term care, including the different types of long-term care and long-term care providers, the statistical risk of requiring long-term care, and the associated costs, so that residents are motivated to provide for their own or family members' long-term care needs.  Your Committee heard testimony on this measure requesting clarification about the use of kupuna care funds for individuals who are eligible for Medicaid.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language to part I to clarify that the intent of the Legislature is to allow kupuna care funds appropriated to the Department of Health to be used for long-term care services for aging individuals who are Medicaid eligible but who require services for which there are no comparable Medicaid services available; and

     (2)  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. 1713, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1713, 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