STAND. COM. REP. NO. 115

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 531

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 531 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HEALTHY AGING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Executive Office on Aging for the Healthy Aging Partnership Program to further the program's vital role in improving the health and well-being of Hawaii's kupuna.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging; Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition; Maui County Office on Aging; Elderly Affairs Division of the Department of Community Services, City and County of Honolulu; AARP Hawaii; Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 Hawaii; and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that the Healthy Aging Partnership Program aims to improve the health of older adults and empower them to stay healthy, active, and socially engaged.  The program serves as an important link between clinical support for patients and community resources for lifestyle change.  Your Committees further find that the program operates two evidence-based intervention programs that have demonstrated that older adults with chronic conditions and their caretakers benefit by focusing on self-management as an integral method to avoiding long term complications from chronic conditions.

 

     Your Committees also find that the Healthy Aging Partnership Program is a worthwhile investment for the State, as preventing disease and disability is far less expensive than resulting health and social services for persons needing treatment.  Your Committees note testimony by the Executive Office on Aging that there is no funding to sustain the program beginning in fiscal year 2017-2018 and without additional funding the program may no longer be able to offer certain existing programs to Hawaii's seniors.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 531 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services,

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair