STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2410

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2004

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2004 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the home care licensing program to begin operation by extending the sunset date of Act 21, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, by five years to June 30, 2019.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committees find that home care agencies are essential to assisting Hawaii's growing population of elderly individuals with aging at home.  Home care agencies help ensure Hawaii's kupuna are kept safe.  Therefore, the public must be assured that home care agencies are meeting minimum standards when delivering care.  Your Committees further find that Act 21, First Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009, was enacted to require home care agencies to be licensed, and the Department of Health's draft rules for implementation of licensing are in the last stages of the approval process.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2004 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair