STAND. COM. REP. NO. 897

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 533

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 533 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Aging and Disability Resource Center.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, Lanakila Pacific, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, ILWU Local 142, AARP Hawaii, and seven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Aging and Disability Resource Center helps individuals and their families identify their long-term services and support needs based on a person-centered process.  Your Committee recognizes that proper funding for the Aging and Disability Resource Center is essential to ensure the Center is an effective single point of entry for individuals seeking information about appropriate long-term care options.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the amount appropriated in fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 from $1,710,000 to an unspecified amount; and

 

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050.

 

     Your Committee notes that it intends to consider placing the appropriation into the General Appropriations Act of 2017.

 

Your Committee also notes that consideration should be given to continued monitoring of and reporting on this program.  Act 138, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, included a reporting requirement for an evaluation of the effectiveness of the aging and disability resource centers in each county to ensure timely and efficient delivery of services to seniors and caregivers.  These reporting requirements and additional calls for oversight and monitoring by the Executive Office on Aging was a direct result of complaints received due to delays in connecting some of the most vulnerable in our community with providers and services.  Your Committee finds that the Executive Office on Aging submitted the report to the 2017 Legislature and, under Act 138, is required to submit another report to the 2018 Legislature.  It should be determined if additional information is required, and if improvements to the program have been made.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 533, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 533, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair