STAND. COM. REP. NO.  482-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2615

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2615 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the monthly personal needs allowance for individuals living in adult residential care homes, developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, certified adult foster homes, domiciliary care, nursing facilities, and community-based residences.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Executive Office on Aging.

 

     Your Committee finds that the current monthly needs allowance of $50 per month for individuals residing in foster homes, care homes, domiciliary homes, and other long-term care facilities was last raised in 2007.  The monthly needs allowance is used by residents in these homes and facilities to pay for clothing and other personal miscellaneous needs, such as bus fare, personal postage costs, haircuts, and other costs of day-to-day living. Your Committee recognizes that raising the personal needs allowance is necessary to keep up with inflation and give some financial independence and control to individuals who benefit from the allowance.

 

     Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of Human Services, which indicated that from a Medicaid perspective, the proposal to increase the monthly needs allowance would increase program expenditures and have a fiscal impact on the State.  The Department of Human Services indicated that it is in the process of determining the effect of a supplemental payment increase on Medicaid eligibility.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Amending the state supplemental payment ceiling for domiciliary care paid to recipients who are eligible for federal supplementary security income or public assistance, or both;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to December 31, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2615, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2615, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.


 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair