STAND. COM. REP. NO. 77-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2087

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2087 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce wait times for seniors by establishing a pilot program within the Executive Office on Aging to create dedicated priority lanes, priority online scheduling, or priority phone lines for persons sixty-five years of age or older seeking access to public services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Public Health Association, Hawaii Federation of Republican Women, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committee finds that there has been a rapid increase in the State's senior population. This population often faces unique challenges when accessing services, including mobility issues, hearing impairments, and limited technological proficiency. Your Committee further finds that seniors are disproportionately impacted by long wait times for services, possibly delaying their access to essential care. This measure establishes a pilot program intended to help the State's kupuna access public services in a more efficient manner.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the name of the pilot program and authorizing the Executive Office on Aging to enter into memorandums of agreement with counties and other state agencies to implement the pilot program;

(2) Requiring the Executive Office on Aging to work with certain state and county government offices to create more user-friendly services for kupuna;

(3) Requiring the Executive Office on Aging to provide relevant information about the pilot program to the Auditor by September 1, 2026;

(4) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2087, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2087, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair