CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 129

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2017

RE:    H.B. No. 607

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 607, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KUPUNA CARE,"

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 improve the care of elderly persons in the State.

     Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Requires the Executive Office on Aging to establish the Kupuna Caregivers Program;

(2)  Mandates the establishment of the Kupuna Care Program and clarifies which kupuna services and supports are to be provided by area agencies within the Kupuna Care Program; and

(3)  Appropriates funds for each year of the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium for the establishment and implementation of the Kupuna Caregivers Program.

     Family caregivers are central to the nation's long-term care and health systems.  Caregivers play an invaluable role in our communities by providing vital services and care for a rapidly-growing elderly population.  Your Committee on Conference recognizes the significant role and responsibilities of caregivers in helping others, as well as the demands placed on them.  This measure would provide caregivers respite from the demands of caregiving and the necessary supports and services to sustain their own health.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Authorizing the Executive Office on Aging to establish the Kupuna Caregivers Program;

     (2)  Retaining the flexibility of the Executive Office on Aging to establish the Kupuna Care Program, rather than mandating its establishment;

     (3)  Clarifying which kupuna services and supports under the Kupuna Care Program shall be provided by area agencies on aging;

     (4)  Deleting the definition of "adult day health";

     (5)  Amending the definitions of "adult day care", "care recipient", and "respite care";

     (6)  Changing the term "homemaker" to "homemaker services";

     (7)  Defining "service provider";

     (8)  Specifying that the written individualized person-centered support plan under the Kupuna Care Program is to be developed with the assistance of a coach in preparing the plan;

     (9)  Broadening the award of funds covering the costs for services under the Kupuna Caregivers Program to include home-delivered meals;

     (10) Providing that termination of kupuna care services may occur if a care recipient is placed or resides in a long-term care facility, such as an intermediate care facility, assisted living facility, skilled nursing facility, hospital, community care foster care home, foster family home, adult residential care home, or expanded adult residential care home;

     (11) Appropriating $600,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 for the Kupuna Caregivers Program;

     (12) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2017; and

     (13) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 607, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 607, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair	____________________________ DEE MORIKAWA Co-Chair
____________________________ JOSH GREEN Co-Chair	____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair
____________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA Co-Chair