STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1003

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 467

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 467, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KUPUNA CAREGIVERS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that unpaid caregivers of kupuna, generally family members, have the necessary resources to cover a variety of support services for themselves and their elders by:

(1) Requiring the Executive Office on Aging to:

(A) Include in its annual report to the Legislature, information relating to the outcomes of the Kupuna Caregivers Program (Program);

(B) Offer a plan that maximizes the number of participants in the Program and offers specified core services;

(C) Submit a copy of the Program plan to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2020; and

(D) Adopt rules to implement and administer the Program by January 1, 2022;

(2) Changing to an unspecified sum, the per-day cap on the award to qualified caregivers to cover the costs for services that would otherwise be performed by the caregiver for the care recipient; and

(3) Appropriating an unspecified sum to the Executive Office on Aging for proper implementation of the Program.

The Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; Hawaii Women's Coalition; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; Zonta Club of Hilo; O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Mental Health America of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Psychological Association; Faith Action for Community Equity; and a few concerned individuals supported this measure. A few concerned individuals opposed this measure. The Executive Office on Aging, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Maui County Office on Aging, Lanakila Meals on Wheels, Lanakila Pacific, Church of the Crossroads, PHOCUSED, AARP Hawaii, Chinatown Gateway Plaza Tenant Association, Agency on Elderly Affairs, The Caregiver Foundation, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawai‘i Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Seagull Schools Adult Day Center, Sakura House Day Adult Day Care, Live Well at Iwilei, ILWU Local 142, and numerous concerned individuals submitted comments on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 467, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair