STAND. COM. REP. NO. 938

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 298

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 298, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for Medicaid in-home services, which, when matched with federal funds, will fund services for Medicaid recipients to receive care in their own homes.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, AARP Hawaii, and seven individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from for Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that the moneys appropriated by this measure and matched by the federal government will allow more Medicaid recipients to continue to live in their homes, as they prefer, instead of moving to more costly community care foster family homes or expanded adult residential care homes.

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 S.B. No. 298, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair