STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1340

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 145

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 145 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A FAMILY CAREGIVERS WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE AND ASSESS LEGISLATION RELATING TO THE ROLE OF CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITALS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request a co-chair from the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, and a co-chair from the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to convene a Family Caregivers Working Group to examine and assess the issues contained in S.B. No. 296, Regular Session of 2015.

 

     The County of Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs, Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, AARP Hawaii, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Project Dana, Kokua Council, AARP 60, ILWU Local 142, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and several individuals provided testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health, The Queen's Health Systems, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, and an individual provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes this measure received broad community support and no opposition.  Comments on this measure include suggesting:

 

(1) Increases in funding to the county offices on aging and the Aging and Disability Resource Centers; and

 

(2) An assessment of community-based resources that could address the caregiver problem.

 

Your Committee further notes that during the public hearing, the Department of Health announced that the working group convened in accordance with H.C.R. No. 78 (2014) has completed its report and the report has since been made available.  The Department of Health further recommended in its testimony that the Legislature review this report in its entirety and consider all its findings, conclusions, and recommendations before proceeding on this resolution.   

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 145 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance for further discussion in light of the recommendations of the Department of Health.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair