STAND. COM. REP. NO. 950

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1023

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 1023 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 support the Department of Health's Kupuna Care program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging of the Department of Health, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Lanakila Pacific, Chinatown Gateway Plaza Tenant Association, AARP Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and six individuals.

Your Committee finds that fully funding the Kupuna Care program is critical to keeping seniors healthy and residing at home, which is the most cost-effective way to address the needs of the State's rapidly increasing population of adults age sixty and older.

Your Committee further notes that an appropriation of $9,000,000, in each year of fiscal biennium 2019-2021 will be needed to fully fund and support the Kupuna Care program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 1023, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1023, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair