STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3410

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2094

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2094, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend by five years the repeal date of Act 21, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, which requires home care agencies to be licensed by the Department of Health.

     The measure also:

     (1)  Appropriates an unspecified amount to establish a permanent full-time position in the Department of Health to facilitate the licensing of home care agencies; and

     (2)  Beginning with fiscal year 2015-2016, requires the Department of Health to request funding for the newly established position as part of its annual budget request to the Director of Finance.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that home care is a quickly expanding component of elderly care, due in large part to the fact that a majority of the elderly population prefers to age in place.  Your Committee further finds that home care enables the aging population to remain in their homes, by providing assistance with daily living activities and by providing other related in-home care.  Your Committee believes that this measure will help to ensure that Hawaii's elderly population receives the highest quality care from home care providers.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2094, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair