STAND. COM. REP. NO. 146

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 551
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to
which was referred H.B. No. 551 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADULT RESIDENTIAL CARE
     HOMES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require:

     (1)  Inspections of adult residential care homes (ARCH) to
          be made at specific times with prior notice for
          purposes of confirming correction of deficiencies and
          for investigation of complaints; and

     (2)  Notification of the specific date and time of the visit
          to ARCH operators for annual inspections.

     The United Group of Home Operators submitted testimony in
support of this measure.  The Department of Health (DOH), the
Executive Office on Aging, and the Hawaii Long-Term Care
Association submitted testimony in opposition of this measure.

     Your Committees find that this measure, as written, would
compromise the health, safety, and welfare of individuals placed
in ARCHs.  Announced inspections may negate DOH's efforts to
ensure safety and quality of care when monitoring the corrections
of deficiencies in the daily operations of the ARCH.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 146
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Allowing DOH to continue the practice of unannounced
          inspections for purposes of confirming correction of
          deficiencies and for investigations of complaints; and

     (2)  Requiring DOH to provide a two-week advance written
          notice of the approximate date and time for an annual
          inspection.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are
attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the
intent and purpose of H.B. No. 551, as amended herein, and
recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto
as H.B. No. 551, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on
Consumer Protection and Commerce.

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

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ALEXANDER SANTIAGO, Chair          DENNIS ARAKAKI, Chair