STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1989

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 465

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 465, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to fully fund the Department of Health's kupuna care program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, Maui County Office on Aging, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Chinatown Gateway Plaza Tenant Association, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, Zonta Club of Hilo, Oahu County Democrats, AARP Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that the kupuna care program provides a continuum of home and community-based services and supports that allow older adults to age in place, preventing or delaying the need for more restrictive levels of care. Your Committee further finds that the kupuna care program assists frail adults, sixty years of age and older, to lead independent, meaningful, and dignified lives.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount of the appropriation to $4,145,695 for each year of the fiscal biennium 2019-2021;

(2) Specifying that any funds appropriated pursuant to this measure shall be included in the base budget of the Executive Office on Aging; and

(3) Providing that, with the approval of the Governor, the funds appropriated may be transferred to the General Appropriations Act of 2019.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 465, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 465, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair