REPORT TITLE:
Respite Care


DESCRIPTION:
Makes appropriation to the department of health for respite care
services to families providing home care to a family member who
has special needs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                            322         
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR RESPITE CARE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES OF
   INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that families are the
 
 2 greatest resource for their children and are the major providers
 
 3 of care and support for them.  Children with or without
 
 4 disabilities need families and enduring relationships in a
 
 5 nurturing environment.  For families with individuals with
 
 6 special needs, providing daily care in their own home includes
 
 7 additional challenges such as higher financial outlays, and
 
 8 physical and emotional stress and isolation.
 
 9      The last major appropriation for respite care was made in
 
10 Act 324, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, for $1,000,000, to help
 
11 families who provide home care to their son or daughter with
 
12 special needs, by providing them with support services and
 
13 training.  The legislature further finds that the respite care
 
14 budget has not increased since 1990, although several budget cuts
 
15 have been made over the years that significantly reduced the
 
16 funds for respite care.  For fiscal year 1998-1999, $624,128 was
 
17 allocated for respite care, resulting in fewer families being
 
18 served and in less money for each family.
 
19      The legislature further finds that there are approximately
 

 
Page 2                                         322         
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 5,500 families who are in need of respite care services in order
 
 2 to maintain their son or daughter at home rather than being
 
 3 institutionalized, however, because of budget cuts, only 897
 
 4 families could be served in 1998-1999.  For many families, the
 
 5 department of health's respite program is their only source of
 
 6 support.  The respite program allows families to choose their own
 
 7 care providers.
 
 8      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for respite
 
 9 care services to families providing home care to a family member
 
10 with special needs.
 
11      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
12 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,302,000, or so much
 
13 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000, and the
 
14 same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year
 
15 2000-2001, for the provision of support services and training to
 
16 families and caregivers who provide home care to individuals with
 
17 developmental disabilities and mental illness, and for the
 
18 establishment and development of respite care services to
 
19 families providing home care to a family member who is:
 
20      (1)  An infant or toddler (from birth through three years of
 
21           age) with a developmental delay;
 
22      (2)  An adult with mental illness;
 
23      (3)  A child or adolescent with an emotional disability;
 

 
Page 3                                         322         
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (4)  A child with a serious or chronic illness; or
 
 2      (5)  A child or adult with a developmental disability.
 
 3      SECTION 3.  The sums appropriated shall be expended by the
 
 4 department of health for the purposes of this Act.
 
 5      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
 6 
 
 7                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________