Report Title:

Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving; Extension

 

Description:

Extends the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving (Committee) to June 30, 2008.  Expands the focus of the committee to explore a paid family leave program.  Provides a broader definition for "family caregiver" for purposes of the Committee.  (HB825 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

825

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to caregiving.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The joint legislative committee on family caregiving (committee) was established under Act 285, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006 (Act 285), to develop a comprehensive public policy to strengthen support for family caregivers in Hawaii.

     Once all of the members of the committee were appointed, the committee held several meetings during the fall of 2006.  The objectives of these meetings were to address and meet the requirements of Act 285 by developing and adopting a policy that provides support and services for family caregivers who care for individuals over the age of sixty with physical or cognitive disabilities.  Based on these objectives, the committee submitted a special committee report to the legislature outlining its process for developing a policy to establish a comprehensive and sustainable, community-based family caregiver support system that will maximize resources in all communities.

     In its recommendations, the committee noted that after reviewing the magnitude of creating a comprehensive family caregiver support system, more time is required to perform research and community outreach and establish pilot programs.    The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Extend the life of the joint legislative committee on family caregiving;

     (2)  Authorize the joint legislative committee to explore establishing a paid family leave program under the State's temporary disability insurance law; and

     (3)  Provide a broader definition for "family caregiver".

     SECTION 2.  Act 285, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, is amended by amending section 2 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established a joint legislative committee on family caregiving.  The committee shall be composed of eight members as follows:

     (1)  Four members of the house of representatives, consisting of three members from the majority party and one member from the minority party, who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

     (2)  Four members of the senate, consisting of three members from the majority party and one member from the minority party, who shall be appointed by the president of the senate.

     The committee shall select a chairperson from its membership.

     (b)  The joint legislative committee shall develop comprehensive public policy to strengthen support for family caregivers who provide unpaid, informal assistance to persons age sixty and older with physical or cognitive disabilities.  For purposes of this Act, "family caregivers" includes persons with no blood relationship to the care recipient, and grandparents who are caregivers for their grandchildren who are age eighteen years or younger and have physical or cognitive disabilities.

     (c)  The joint legislative committee shall [consider]:

     (1)  Consider providing support in categories including but not limited to:

         [(1)] (A) Coordinated services and policies;

         [(2)] (B) Training and education;

         [(3)] (C) Respite services;

         [(4)] (D) Financial incentives; and

         [(5)] (E) Balancing work and caregiving[.]; and

     (2)  Explore establishing a paid family leave program under the State's temporary disability insurance law, similar to the California Paid Family Leave Program, to provide wage replacement benefits to employees who take time off from work to care for a seriously ill family member.

     (d)  The joint legislative committee shall seek input from the department of health, the department of human services, the department of taxation, the University of Hawaii, the executive office on aging, and the elderly, disability, business, and faith-based communities.

     (e)  The joint legislative committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular [session] sessions of 2007[.] and 2008.

     (f)  The joint legislative committee shall cease to exist on [June 30, 2007.] June 30, 2008."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on June 29, 2007.