STAND. COM. REP. NO. 624

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 838

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 838, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SERVICES FOR KUPUNA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Define "financial management service provider";

(2) Include assisting the care recipient and caregiver with the enrollment process as a duty of a coach;

(3) Amend the definition of a "person-centered support plan" or "support plan" to require a qualified caregiver in its development and implementation;

(4) Relax the thirty-hour per week employment requirement for qualified caregivers under the Kupuna Caregiver Program during a Governor-declared state of emergency;

(5) Allow the Kupuna Caregiver Program to be delivered through traditional and kupuna caregiver-directed services; and

(6) Allow the funds under the Kupuna Caregivers Program to be issued to the care recipient's financial management service provider.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Executive Office on Aging, Department of Human Services, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has not only imposed additional stressors and isolation on vulnerable kupuna, but also increased the burden on caregivers and their caregiving duties. According to testimony received by your Committee, the Kupuna Caregivers Program requires more flexibility and more options to better serve kupuna and their caregivers. Your Committee further finds that this measure would improve the Kupuna Caregivers Program by providing additional options for kupuna caregivers to support their loved ones.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 838, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair