STAND. COM. REP. NO.  473-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2094

      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 Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2094 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOME CARE LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect consumers of home care services by appropriating $150,000 for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent position in the Department of Health to facilitate the licensing of home care agencies.

The Healthcare Association of Hawaii and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii supported this measure.  An individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Health and an individual commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Deleting the amount of the appropriation; and

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on this measure. 

Your Committee also made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee wishes to note that the funding being requested in this measure is for a full-time, permanent position to start the home care agency licensing process so fees can be collected.  After the initial year of this program, the licensing fees collected are expected to cover the administrative costs of licensing home care agencies.  Should this measure be heard by the Committee on Finance, your Committee respectfully requests it to consider appropriating $150,000 for Fiscal year 2014-2015 to establish the full-time equivalent permanent position specified in this bill.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2094, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2094, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair