CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 99-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2014

RE:    S.B. No. 2346

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to provide necessary services and support programs for the health and well-being of Hawaii's elder population by:

     (1)  Appropriating funds to the Department of Health for the kupuna care program, aging and disability resource center, and healthy aging partnership program; and

     (2)  Requiring the Executive Office on Aging to conduct a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care and appropriating funds for this purpose.

     Your Committee on Conference 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 on Conference further finds that the most successful programs for aging in place recognize and build upon integrated health and social services.  Finally, your Committee on Conference recognizes the importance of educating Hawaii's residents with information about long-term care.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $4,200,000 for the kupuna care program;

     (2)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,900,000 for the aging and disability resource center;

     (3)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $476,772 for the healthy aging partnership program;

     (4)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $500,000 for the Executive Office on Aging to conduct a public education and awareness campaign on long-term care; and

     (5)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2014.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Co-Chair	____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair
____________________________ SYLVIA LUKE, Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Co-Chair