THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

60

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting a study of state programs involved with or providing long-term care services FOR hawaii's elderly.

 

WHEREAS, current demographics indicate that this State's population is rapidly aging, and that there are over 207,000 older adults in this State; and

WHEREAS, by the year 2020, persons aged 65 and over will constitute over one-fourth of Hawaii's adult population, and nearly one-third of this group are expected to be disabled; and

WHEREAS, in the next ten years, it will be critical for the State to be prepared for the aging of our population; and

WHEREAS, the spectrum of issues which affect older adults is extremely broad, at times complex, and crosses over departmental lines; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive definition of the roles and responsibilities of all affected agencies is necessary to develop new policies on aging and long-term care related goals and implementation of state programs; and

WHEREAS, in times of tight operational funding, it may be efficient to consider consolidating functions in a streamlined and orderly system of services to the elderly and disabled; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Executive Office on Aging (EOA) is requested to convene a committee to conduct a study of existing statutory and regulatory frameworks for all state programs involved with and providing long-term care services for Hawaii's elderly; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be composed of up to fifteen members selected by EOA, including a chair and a co-chair to head the committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee may include, but not be limited to, representatives from:

(1) The Department of Health;

(2) The Department of Human Services;

(3) The Executive Office on Aging;

(4) The Department of Human Resources Development;

(5) The Department of Budget and Finance;

(6) The State Council on Developmental Disabilities;

(7) The Healthcare Association of Hawaii;

(8) The Hawaii Long-Term Care Association;

(9) The Hawaii Coalition of Care Home Administrators;

(10) A private provider of long-term care;

(11) Elderly and disabled advocacy organizations; and

(12) A consumer or family caregiver of a consumer of long-term care services;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee determine which existing agencies that provide long-term care or elderly services have the same or similar functions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee examine the creation of a department to administer the laws, rules, and all matters affecting the elderly or long-term care under any state or federal laws enacted now or in the future; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall formulate a functional plan and a budget for the department, and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Director of Human Services, Director of the Executive Office on Aging, Director of Human Resources Development, Director of Finance, Executive Director of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Executive Director of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Executive Director of the Hawaii Long-Term Care Association, and the President of the Hawaii Coalition of Care Home Administrators.

 

Report Title:

Long-term Care Committee