STAND. COM. REP. NO.  616-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2053

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2053, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address falls and fall-related injuries by elderly persons in the State by:

     (1)  Establishing a Fall Prevention and Early Detection Coordinator position within the Department of Health Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch to coordinate the provision of public and private fall prevention and early detection services; and

     (2)  Appropriating funds from the Trauma System Special Fund to establish and fill this position.

Injury Prevention Advisory Committee; Hawaii Fall Prevention Consortium; Hawaii Primary Care Association; American Medical Response; HARA; PABEA; Zonta Club of Hilo; and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Executive Office on Aging and Department of Health commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2053, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair