THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

276

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ELDER AND VULNERABLE ADULTS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

hawaii kupuna trust fund

     §   ‑1  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     "Abuse" has the same meaning as in section 346-222.

     "Aging and disability resource centers" means an entity established by the State as part of the state system of long-term care, serving as a highly visible and trusted source where people of all incomes and ages can get information on the full range of long-term support options, and a single point of entry for access to public long-term support programs and benefits.

     "Board" means the Hawaii kupuna trust fund advisory board.

     "Department" means the department of health.

     "Director" means the director of health.

     "Elder adult" or "elderly" means a person who is a resident of the State and has attained the age of sixty-two years.

     "Elder or elderly housing" means:

     (1)  A housing project intended for and occupied by elders or elderly households; or

     (2)  Housing provided under any state or federal program that the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development determines is specifically designed and operated to assist elder or elderly persons, or if the Secretary makes a determination, the project may also be occupied by persons with disabilities who have reached eighteen years of age.

     "Trust fund" or "fund" means the Hawaii kupuna trust fund.

     "Vulnerable adult" shall have the same meaning as in section 346-222.

     §   ‑2  Creation of the Hawaii kupuna trust fund.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii kupuna trust fund as a separate fund of a nonprofit entity having a board of directors and qualifying under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, into which shall be deposited moneys received as provided under subsection (c).  The director, with the concurrence of the governor, shall select, in accordance with chapter 103D, the entity based upon the proven record of accomplishment of the entity in administering a similar trust fund.

     (b)  Notwithstanding that the trust fund is established within a private entity, the department of budget and finance shall have oversight authority over the fund and may make periodic financial audits of the fund; provided that the director of finance may contract with a certified public accountancy firm for this purpose.  The director with the concurrence of the governor in their sole discretion may rescind the selection of the entity.  If the selection of the entity is rescinded, moneys in the trust fund shall revert back to the State and shall be deemed to be trust moneys.

     (c)  The assets of the trust fund and control trust fund shall consist of:

     (1)  Moneys appropriated to the trust fund by the state, county, or federal government;

     (2)  Private contributions of cash or property from corporations, businesses, foundations, grants, endowments, individuals, and other interested parties; and

     (3)  Income and capital gains earned by the trust fund.

Any appropriations made by the State shall not supplant or diminish the funding of existing elderly and vulnerable adult programs or any health related programs funded in whole or in part by the State.

     (d)  The purpose of the trust fund is to strengthen elderly and vulnerable adult care by the award of grants for purposes that may include but are not limited to the following:

     (1)  The prevention of elder vulnerable adult abuse and neglect;

     (2)  The prevention of financial exploitation of the elderly and vulnerable adults;

     (3)  The prevention of injuries to the elderly and vulnerable adults that are caused by falling;

     (4)  The assistance of residents of elderly housing;

     (5)  The assistance of the elderly and vulnerable adults with transportation and mobility needs;

     (6)  The promotion of aging and disability resource centers; and

     (7)  The meeting of future needs of the elderly and vulnerable adults, as determined by the board in accordance with this chapter.

     (e)  There shall be an endowment component of the trust fund.

     (f)  The aggregate principal sum deposited in the trust fund, and any income and capital gains earned by the trust fund but not expended for grantmaking or administration, shall be invested by the entity selected under subsection (a) in a manner intended to maximize the rate of return on investment of the trust fund consistent with the objective of preserving the trust fund's principal.

     (g)  If the entity selected under subsection (a) is dissolved, the director, with the concurrence of the governor, shall select a successor entity.  If the trust fund is terminated, the moneys remaining in the trust fund shall revert back to the State and shall be deemed to be trust moneys.

     (h)  The administration of the trust fund shall be advised by the board created under section    -3.

     (i)  The department of human services and the executive office on aging shall serve as co-lead agencies for the public sector and, in conjunction with the entity selected under subsection (a) to administer the trust fund, may provide staffing for the board.

     §   ‑3  Hawaii kupuna trust fund advisory board.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii kupuna trust fund advisory board under the department for administrative purposes.

     (b)  The board shall consist of seven members to be appointed as follows:

     (1)  One member shall be selected by the entity selected under section    -2(a) to serve for a term of three years.  This member may not serve more than two consecutive terms;

     (2)  Two members shall be appointed by the governor from a list of names of seven persons submitted by the entity selected under section    -2(a).  Each of these members shall serve for a term of three years, except that the terms of the initial board members shall be staggered as follows:  one member shall be appointed to a two-year term, and one member shall be appointed to a three-year term.  None of these members shall serve for more than two consecutive terms;

     (3)  One member shall be appointed from among the members of the senate by the president of the senate to serve until the expiration of the member's term in the senate during which the member is appointed;

     (4)  One member shall be appointed from among the members of the house of representatives by the speaker of the house of representatives to serve until the expiration of the member's term in the house of representatives during which the member is appointed;

     (5)  One member shall be the director of human services or the director's designee; and

     (6)  One member shall be the director of the executive office on aging or the director's designee.

     (c)  The board, in collaboration with the department, shall make the final recommendations to the entity selected under section    -2(a) for the following activities:

     (1)  Grantmaking with private nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or qualified individuals to provide services and education designed to meet the outstanding needs of the State's elderly;

     (2)  Grantmaking to raise community awareness of the trust fund; and

     (3)  Administration of the trust fund.

     (d)  The board, in collaboration with the department, shall develop a strategic plan for strengthening elderly and vulnerable adult care in the State.  The strategic plan shall be in writing and shall be a public document.  The board shall also be responsible for the following:

     (1)  Assessing and determining the needs of the elderly and vulnerable adults unmet by current trust fund grants and fund expenditures;

     (2)  Developing policy, strategies, and plans for the fund;

     (3)  Soliciting public and private moneys for the fund;

     (4)  Promoting statewide planning for the prevention of elder abuse and neglect and promoting quality care;

     (5)  Developing adequate standards and benchmarks by which measures of program success may be appropriately evaluated;

     (6)  Establishing criteria and guidelines for grantmaking;

     (7)  Advising the executive office on aging on matters involving elderly and vulnerable adult care and issues; and

     (8)  Facilitating the exchange of information between groups concerned with elderly and vulnerable adult issues.

     §   ‑4  Grants.  Grants provided for elder assistance may include but are not limited to the following:

     (1)  Programs for the prevention of elder and vulnerable adult abuse, and promotion of quality care;

     (2)  Programs for the prevention of financial exploitation of the elderly and vulnerable adults, and promotion of quality care;

     (3)  Programs for the prevention of injuries sustained by the elderly and vulnerable adults falling;

     (4)  Programs for the assistance of the elderly and vulnerable adults in meeting transportation and mobility needs;

     (5)  Promotion of aging and disability resource centers;

     (6)  Training and education for professionals, informal caregivers, and caregiver advocates, including making information about the problems of elder abuse and neglect and the promotion of quality care available to agencies dealing with these problems;

     (7)  General community education to increase the community's awareness of the needs of the elderly and vulnerable adults, of the issues of elder and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect and its prevention, and of how to provide quality care to elder and vulnerable adults;

     (8)  Research, evaluation, and advocacy activities related to the prevention of elder and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect and promotion of quality care; and

     (9)  The meeting of future needs of the elderly and vulnerable adults, as determined by the board in accordance with this chapter."

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii Kupuna Trust Fund

 

Description:

Creates the Hawaii kupuna trust fund, which comprises public and private funding for meeting the outstanding and future needs of the elder and vulnerable adult population.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.