STAND. COM. REP. NO. 208

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1217

       S.D. 1

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. 1217 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the monthly personal needs allowance paid for individuals living in certain care facilities from $50 to $75.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and ten individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committee finds that the State provides a personal needs allowance for individuals residing in foster homes, care homes, domiciliary homes, and other long-term care facilities.  The personal needs allowance allows recipients to purchase clothing, toiletries, and meals and cover other day-to-day living expenses.  Your Committee further finds that the personal needs allowance was last increased in 2007 and has not kept up with the State's high cost of living.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting a blank amount that is specified per month for the needs allowance.

     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. 1217, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1217, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair