THE SENATE

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

INTERIM OF 2007

JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON FAMILY CAREGIVING

                         Senator Les Ihara, Jr., Co-Chair     Representative Marilyn Lee, Co-Chair

                                      Senator Rosalyn Baker     Representative John Mizuno

                          Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland     Representative Alex Sonson

                                     Senator Gordon Trimble     Representative Karen Awana

NOTICE OF MEETING

DATE:

Friday, July 6, 2007

TIME:

3:00 p.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 229

State Capitol,

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

The Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving will meet to discuss its work plans for the 2007 Interim, and review legislative actions taken in the 2007 Session pursuant to its Special Committee Report No. 1. Act 204 (S.B. 1916) extended the life of the Committee to continue work on its proposal to establish a comprehensive and sustainable, community-based family caregiver support system. The Committee will consider the conduct of a comprehensive needs assessment of care recipients age sixty and older with physical or cognitive disabilities, and the needs of their family caregivers, which is required by Act 204.

Act 204 also requires the JLCFC to explore establishing a paid family leave program under the State Temporary Disability Insurance Law to provide wage replacement benefits to employees who take time off from work to care for a seriously ill family member. The definition of “family caregiver” was also expanded by the Act to include a grandparent who is a caregiver for a grandchild age eighteen or younger, or who is nineteen years of age or older with physical or cognitive limitations. Preliminary discussion may be conducted on these subjects.

The purpose of the Joint Legislative Committee on Family Caregiving, as stated in Act 285 (2006), is to develop a comprehensive public policy program to strengthen support for family caregivers who provide unpaid, informal assistance to persons sixty and older with physical or cognitive disabilities. The Committee will consider providing support in categories including but not limited to: coordinated services and policies, training and education, respite services, financial incentives, and balancing work and caregiving. The Committee’s first report was submitted to the 2007 Legislature and is available online at:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2006/studies/SpecCommRpt1_sb3253_cd1_2006.htm.

Persons who wish to submit testimony are asked to contact the committee clerk at 586-6250. All testifiers are requested to submit 45 copies of their testimony at least 24 hours before the briefing in room 220 at the State Capitol, or by fax to 586-6251. If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to par­ticipate in the meeting (i.e., sign language interpreter, wheelchair accessibility, or parking designated for the disabled) please contact the committee clerk 24 hours prior to the hearing so arrangements can be made.

 

___________________________________

Senator Les Ihara, Jr.

Co-Chair

 

__________________________________

Representative Marilyn B. Lee

Co-Chair