STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1130-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 RE:  S.B. No. 2346

      S.D. 1

      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 S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

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

(1)  The Kupuna Care Program, the Aging and Disability Resource Center, and the Healthy Aging Partnership Program; and

(2)  A public education and awareness campaign on long-term care by the Executive Office on Aging.

The Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Maui County Office on Aging, AARP, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, American Council of Life Insurers, Aloha United Way, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Lanakila Pacific, Project Dana, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Zonta Club of Hilo, PHOCUSED, and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Executive Office on Aging and Child & Family Service commented on this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Including language in the purpose section acknowledging and expressing support for the intent and purpose of the Kupuna Care Program and the federal Older Americans Act to provide care and services for all older persons regardless of Medicaid eligibility status, access to public or private benefits, or other criteria; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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 S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2346, S.D. 1, 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