STAND. COM. REP. NO. 883

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1432

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1432, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to support a statewide aging and disability resource center with sites in each county.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Executive Office on Aging, County of Hawaii Office on Aging, Maui County Office on Aging, AARP Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Child and Family Service, Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Lanakila Pacific, Partners in Development Foundation, Project Dana, Arc of Kona, and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that aging and disability resource centers are intended to streamline access to long-term supports and services for older adults, persons with disabilities, and caregivers.  Hawaii's aging and disability resource center program is in various stages of development in each county.  Programs are operational in Hilo and Maui and are scheduled for implementation on Kauai in late 2013.  Programs are also scheduled for Kona and Oahu in 2015.

 

     Your Committee further finds that aging and disability resource centers in Hawaii need to be properly resourced and funded to make the centers an effective single point of entry for individuals seeking information on their long-term care options.

 

     Your Committee has heard testimony expressing concerns about the appropriation amount and requests that your Committee on Ways and Means consider an appropriation amount of $1,800,000.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1432, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair