STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1698

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 97

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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 97 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DECLARING NOVEMBER AS "ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS MONTH" AND JUNE AS "ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to declare November as Alzheimer's Awareness Month and June as Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness Month in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committee finds Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, with one out of three seniors dying from Alzheimer's disease. There are an estimated 27,000 people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii today, and that number is expected to increase by more than 40 percent by 2025. The Alzheimer's Association estimated that the cost of care for a person living with Alzheimer's disease is approximately $341,840 and Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia cost people in the United States a combined $277 billion in 2018. Your Committee further finds that while there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, increased public awareness and an early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia may reduce the costs of care for a person living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Your Committee finds designating November as Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness month may encourage residents to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and related ailments and motivate them to contact the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter to access resources and receive support to help them live well with Alzheimer's disease.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the findings to incorporate updated statistics regarding Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia;

(2) Clarifying that the designated month for Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness is November;

(3) Amending the title accordingly; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 97, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 97, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair