STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2990

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 531

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 531, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the offense of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver as a class A felony.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Credit Union League, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that there is a growing trend of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults by caregivers. Caregivers gain extensive knowledge of their client's financial situation during their work and in cases where a vulnerable person is dependent on a caregiver for physical and social support, the vulnerable person can be particularly susceptible to financial exploitation. Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults often causes permanent damage, as they are typically unable to participate in the workforce to recoup their finances. Furthermore, abuse by caregivers can leave victims isolated and defenseless and unwilling to trust another caregiver, resulting in diminished quality of life.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective on September 1, 2020.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 531, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 531, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair