STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2188

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2019

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1025

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1025, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE KUPUNA CAREGIVERS PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the Kupuna Caregivers Program (Program) by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Executive Office on Aging to:

 

          (A)  Include in its annual report to the Legislature a section detailing outcomes of the Program; and

 

          (B)  Offer a plan to maximize the number of recipients served by the Program and to offer certain core services;

 

     (2)  Amending the maximum benefit amount available to program recipients;

 

     (3)  Including assistance with activities of daily living as a service to be provided by the Program; and

 

     (4)  Appropriating funds for the implementation of the Program.

 

     The Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and a few individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Executive Office on Aging, Caring Across Generations, Hawaii Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Chinatown Gateway Plaza Tenant Association, Mental Health America of Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, Zonta Club of Hilo, Faith Action for Community Equity, Lanakila Meals on Wheels, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Church of the Crossroads, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, and several individuals submitted comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that the Executive Office on Aging shall develop and implement a plan to maximize the number of participants served by the Program;

 

     (2)  Clarifying the contents of the annual report submitted to the Legislature;

 

     (3)  Allowing the Program to award a maximum of $210 per week to cover costs for services;

 

     (4)  Amending covered services to include care coordination or case management and removing activities of daily living;

 

     (5)  Removing the provision that limited the availability of the benefit to once per week;

 

     (6)  Authorizing rather than requiring the Executive Office on Aging to adopt administrative rules;

 

     (7)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,500,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 for further implementation of the Program;

 

     (8)  Making it effective on July 1, 2019; and

 

     (9)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1025, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1025, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair