STAND. COM. REP. NO. 410

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 529

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 529 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the University of Hawaii's Center on Aging by appropriating funds for an associate professor position and an associate specialist position within the Center on Aging.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work; Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; Maui County Office on Aging; AARP Hawaii; Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition; Kāhala Senior Living Community, Inc.; and eight individuals.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's aging population is growing at a faster rate than the rest of the nation, and seniors in Hawaii have the highest life expectancy in the country.  Your Committees further find that gerontological education and workforce development are crucial to prepare for the aging population and address the needs of the State's kupuna.  Your Committees note that the University of Hawaii Center on Aging plays a critical role in the State's aging network by working with government and service providers to offer education, consultation, research, and program development and evaluation.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of May 12, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 529, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 529, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Human Services,

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair