STAND. COM. REP. NO. 18

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 539

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 539 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ELDERLY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make financial exploitation of an elder by a caregiver a felony.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department, Lanakila Pacific, and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that financial exploitation is a fast growing form of elder abuse.  Financial exploitation occurs when a person misuses or takes the assets of an elderly victim for that person's own personal benefit.  While state laws and various services protect vulnerable adults, including the elderly, providing an additional mechanism against financial exploitation will further protect the elderly and ensure that they are financially safe.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 539 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair