THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	35
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONDUCT A COLLABORATIVE STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIENCIES IN THE ACCESSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF CARE SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR SENIORS, VETERANS, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, certain public policy changes must be made to address infrastructure deficiencies in the State of Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, among the infrastructure deficiencies of great concern are the deficiencies in the availability and accessibility of care facilities and services for certain populations, including seniors, veterans, and persons with disabilities; and

     WHEREAS, senior and disability advocates have called for a shift in government emphasis from institutional to home- and community-based services; and

     WHEREAS, a comprehensive needs assessment study must be conducted to identify the various areas where necessary infrastructure changes may be made; and

     WHEREAS, the purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to effectuate the recommendations of the Maui Health Initiative Task Force established pursuant to Act 219, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Executive Office on Aging shall lead a project, together with the Departments of Health and Human Services, to conduct a comprehensive and collaborative study to determine the feasibility and through what methods the State may accomplish the following goals:

     (1)  Increase the number of available long-term care facility beds;

     (2)  Increase the number of available nursing home beds;

     (3)  Provide additional tax credit and real property program incentives for private sector partnerships to develop alternative long-term care facilities;

     (4)  Assess funding needs at the Sunrise and Lokelani Ohana programs for individuals with disabilities;

     (5)  Develop and fund a sixty-bed veterans skilled care facility with an in-patient psychiatric unit to offer assessment and services;

     (6)  Develop and fund a geriatric psychiatric unit or specialty group home;

     (7)  Develop and fund affordable housing units for low- and middle- income seniors and individuals with disabilities;

     (8)  Develop legislation based on the concept of a home- and community- based services index that would adjust annual human services funding in response to certain fluctuations in the senior and disability populations; and

     (9)  Together with the Hawaii delegation to the United States Congress, rectify medicaid reimbursement shortfalls by seeking frontier differential rates; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Executive Office on Aging shall submit a report to the Legislature, including its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Executive Office on Aging, the Director of Health, and the Director of Human Services.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

EOA; DOH; DHS; Study