HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

609

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the University of Hawaii center on aging is a key partner in the aging network and provides education, consultation, research, and program development and evaluation in collaboration with government and service providers.

     The legislature also finds that gerontological education and workforce development are critical to prepare for the State's aging population.  Hawaii's population is aging at a faster rate than the rest of the nation, and kupuna in Hawaii have the highest life expectancy in the nation.  Between 1980 and 2010, Hawaii's population of individuals age sixty and older increased one hundred forty per cent.  By 2030, it is expected that twenty-three per cent of the State's overall population will be older adults.

     The legislature further finds that the development of Hawaii's workforce to care for and address the needs of older adults has not kept pace with the growing population of kupuna.  The University of Hawaii center on aging has recognized this gap and will be well-equipped to address the need with two additional faculty positions.  Currently staffed only by a director, the center on aging's capacity to expand and create educational initiatives is limited.  An associate professor position and an associate specialist position will enable the center on aging to achieve its educational mission.  Specifically, the center on aging can lead in workforce development, promoting and teaching gerontology courses on campus, and providing continuing education and training in the community.  The development and teaching of gerontology courses will be invaluable, enabling students from all disciplines, including health, social work, public health, social sciences, business, architecture, engineering, and urban planning, to view their studies with an aging lens and to better prepare for, support, and address the needs of older adults and caregivers.  In addition, the center on aging will be able to partner with the community to provide data; conduct research; conduct program and policy development and evaluation; and promote innovation, including adoption and translation of evidence-based and best practices.

     The purpose of this Act is to fund an associate professor position and an associate specialist position within the University of Hawaii center on aging.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) associate professor position within the University of Hawaii center on aging.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) associate specialist position within the University of Hawaii center on aging.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2075.



 

Report Title:

Kupuna Caucus; University of Hawaii; Center on Aging; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for a permanent full-time associate professor and a permanent full-time associate specialist position within the University of Hawaii Center on Aging.  (HB609 HD1)

 

 

 

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