STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1353

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 838

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 838, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reestablish and appropriate funds for the Long-Term Care Commission within the University of Hawaii College of Social Sciences' Social Science Research Institute to identify the needs and funding opportunities related to long-term care in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, University of Hawai‘i System, AARP Hawai‘i, Kūpuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committees find that Act 224, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, established a Long-Term Care Commission to identify needed reforms of the long-term care system, research programmatic changes and resources necessary to meet the State's long-term care public policy goals, and explore funding options to support the provision of long-term care services in the future. The State's long-term care system has evolved since the Commission issued its report more than a decade ago in 2012, particularly through the expansion of home and community-based services and the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Therefore, a review of the Commission's assessments, conclusions, and recommendations is needed to update the State's long-term care policy goals and guiding principles and public and private financing options to achieve these goals and any related reforms. To conduct this review, this measure reestablishes the Long-Term Care Commission.

Your Committees note the testimony of the University of Hawaii, which states that the implementation of this measure would require an annual appropriation amount of $520,000, which would establish and support one full-time equivalent Faculty Specialist or Program Manager position and two part-time equivalent Graduate Research Assistant positions. In addition, the University would require annual funds to commission third-party research and release faculty from teaching duties to engage in research. Therefore, should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $520,000.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Amending section 1 to specify that this measure addresses an issue of statewide concern;

(2) Inserting an effective date of June 30, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 838, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 838, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Higher Education,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair