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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2102 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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PROPOSED |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the outbreak of respiratory disease caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel coronavirus, was first detected in China, has rapidly expanded, and has now been detected in over seventy locations, including in the United States. The virus has been named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes has been named "coronavirus disease 2019" and has the potential to become a pandemic. The legislature further finds that the novelty of COVID-19 is a historic public health challenge and a reason the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other entities are unprepared for the outbreak of this aggressive disease.
The legislature also finds that while people of all ages can be infected by COVID-19, elderly individuals and individuals with underlying health conditions are at greater risk of dying from the disease. The first death in the United States from COVID-19 occurred in the state of Washington. The individual who died from the respiratory infection caused by the virus was traced to a long-term care facility in Seattle, Washington.
The legislature finds that the outbreak of COVID-19 in the nursing home in Washington sheds light on the vulnerability of residents in nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care facilities and the necessity of preparing for this rapidly-evolving disease. In particular, establishing protocols and strategies for long-term care facilities and caregivers who serve the elderly is essential because of the heightened risks of serious complications from the virus due to age and underlying health conditions of elderly patients and residents, as well as the close living conditions of individuals in these facilities.
The purpose of this Act is to establish precautions to protect Hawaii's elderly from the risks of COVID-19 by requiring the executive office on aging and all agencies and nonprofit organizations that receive funding through the executive office on aging to establish sanitation protocols for caregivers prior to and upon entering a long-term care facility and prior to and upon contact with patients in these facilities.
SECTION 2. The executive office on aging and all agencies and nonprofit organizations, including the kupuna care program and kupuna caregivers program, that receive funding through the executive office on aging shall establish sanitation protocols for caregivers to follow:
(1) Prior to and upon entering a long-term care facility; and
(2) Prior to and upon contact with patients in these facilities,
to prevent the possible spread of, and containment of if necessary, COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in the State.
SECTION 3. The executive director of the executive office on aging shall make a request to the governor no later than April 29, 2020, to allocate moneys from any of the funds specified under the proclamation issued by governor David Y. Ige on March 4, 2020, to fund the sanitation protocols required under this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Executive Office on Aging; Coronavirus Disease 2019; Long-Term Care Facilities; Kupuna Care Program; Kupuna Caregivers Program; Sanitation Protocols
Description:
Requires EOA and all agencies and non-profits that receive funding through EOA, including the kupuna care program and kupuna caregivers program, to establish certain sanitation protocols for caregivers in long-term care facilities. Requires the EOA executive director to request an allocation of funds from the governor's emergency proclamation for the sanitation protocols. (Proposed HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.