STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1253

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   S.B. No. 534

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 534, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KUPUNA CARE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve care for elderly persons in the State by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Executive Office on Aging (EOA) to establish the Kupuna Caregivers Program to assist family caregivers in obtaining care for elders while remaining in the workforce;

 

     (2)  Making the establishment of the Kupuna Care Program mandatory rather than discretionary; and

 

     (3)  Clarifying the kupuna service and support options provided by area agencies on aging within the Kupuna Care Program.

 

     The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Mental Health America of Hawaii, Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Caring Across Generations, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Faith Action for Community Equity, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The EOA, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Lanakila Pacific, and three concerned individuals provided comments.  

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying the role of caregivers and care recipients in the two programs by replacing references to participants with references to care recipients;

 

     (2)  Specifying that the EOA shall establish the Kupuna Caregivers Program and Kupuna Care Program subject to available funds;

 

     (3)  Requiring, rather than allowing, the Director of the EOA to adopt rules for the Kupuna Caregivers Program;

 

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it insert appropriation amounts of $600,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019.

 

     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 S.B. No. 534, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 534, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair