STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1086

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 615

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 615, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HEALTHY AGING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Executive Office on Aging for the Healthy Aging Partnership Program to further the program's vital role in improving the health and well-being of Hawaii's kupuna.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Maui County Office on Aging, County of Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, AARP Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Healthy Aging Partnership Program aims to improve the health of older adults and empower them to stay healthy, active, and socially engaged.  The program serves as an important link between clinical support for patients and community resources for lifestyle change.  Furthermore, the program operates two evidence-based intervention programs that have demonstrated that older adults with chronic conditions and their caretakers benefit by focusing on self-management as an integral method to avoiding long-term complications from chronic conditions.  Your Committee further finds that the Healthy Aging Partnership Program is a worthwhile investment for the State, as preventing disease and disability is far less expensive than resulting health and social services for persons needing treatment.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 615, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair