THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

64

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting a study of state programs and services for long-term care and 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 sixty-five 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 coming 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 there be established a committee within the department of health for administrative purposes, to conduct a study of existing statutory and regulatory framework for all state programs and services provided for long-term care and for Hawaii's elderly; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a total of ten members shall comprise the committee, and shall be selected by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives from a list of nominees provided by the executive office on aging; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that of the members selected, the senate president and the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two co-chairs to head the committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be comprised of a representative of the department of health, a representative of the department of human services, a representative of the executive office on aging, a representative from the department of human resources development, a representative from the state health planning and development agency, a private provider of long-term care, and representatives of elderly and disabled advocacy organizations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee conduct a study under the guidance and supervision of the executive office on aging of the placement of agencies with the same or similar functions among other jurisdictions; 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 now or hereafter enacted; 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 twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the president of the senate, speaker of the house of representatives, director of health, director of human services, director of the executive office on aging, director of human resources development, and administrator of the state health planning and development agency.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Requesting the establishment of a committee on aging and long term care