THE SENATE
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
INTERIM OF 2007
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
DATE: |
Friday, July 6, 2007 |
TIME: |
3:00 p.m. |
PLACE: |
Conference Room 229 State Capitol, 415 South Beretania Street |
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 |