STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2148

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2085

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2085 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for fiscal year 2016-2017 for:

     (1)  The kupuna care program;

     (2)  The aging and disability resource center;

     (3)  Fall prevention and early detection services for the elderly;

     (4)  The healthy aging partnership program;

     (5)  An Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator; and

     (6)  An Alzheimer's disease and related dementia public awareness campaign.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Maui County Office on Aging; Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter; Child & Family Service; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152; Lanakila Pacific; Zonta Club of Hilo; Catholic Charities Hawaii; ILWU Local 142; and two individuals.

     Your Committees find that according to census projections, Hawaii's senior population will almost double between 2010 and 2020, with the highest percentage increase occurring in kupuna over the age of 85.  Minimizing the potential financial strain of the aging population on the State and addressing the elderly population's needs require significant proactive efforts.

     While your Committees support all of the appropriations in this measure, your Committees prefer that the appropriations be included in the executive supplemental budget rather than in this measure; provided that for appropriations not included in the executive supplemental budget, your Committee on Ways and Means is requested to consider retaining those appropriations in this measure for further consideration.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the State's aging and disability resource center is a person-centered process intended to navigate and streamline access to long-term services and supports for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and family caregivers;

     (2)  Updating findings related to the costs associated with falls among the elderly; and

     (3)  Updating findings related to the number of Hawaii residents that are forecast to be affected by Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2085, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2085, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair