STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3762

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1772

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1772, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FALL PREVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prevent fall-related injuries among senior citizens.

Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to support the Department of Health's Senior Fall Prevention Campaign.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Executive Office on Aging, Alzheimer's Association, AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawai`i Family Caregiver Coalition, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that an average of one hundred forty-four seniors die and thousands more are injured as a result of unintentional falls each year. Your Committee further finds that falls are not an inevitable part of aging and are preventable.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 H.B. No. 1772, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1772, H.D. 1, 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