STAND. COM. REP. NO. 118

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 533

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 533 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support long-term supports and services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and family caregivers by appropriating funds for the aging and disability resource center.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Maui County Office on Aging; Elderly Affairs Division of the Department of Community Services, City and County of Honolulu; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; AARP Hawaii; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Lanakila Pacific; Hawai‘i Pacific Health; Child and Family Service; Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs; International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 Hawaii; and eight individuals.

     Your Committees find that the aging and disability resource center helps individuals and their families identify their long-term services and support needs based on a person-centered process.  The center assists people with understanding service options, including the publicly funded services through kupuna care, and works with them to implement a comprehensive support plan.  Your Committees further find that proper funding for the aging and disability resource center is essential to ensure the center is an effective single point of entry for individuals seeking information about appropriate long-term care options.

     Your Committees also find that the funding appropriated in this measure will allow the aging and disability resource center to build capacity, the county area agencies on aging to operate their aging and disability resource center sites, implement fully functional status statewide in accordance with federal requirements, and integrate participant-directed supports.  The aging and disability resource center has linked 7,254 older adults to publicly funded long-term services and supports.  Your Committees note that in 2016 there was an eighteen percent increase in calls to the center as compared to the year prior.  Your Committees find that funding is needed for the aging and disability resource center to manage an anticipated increase in volume of calls and implementation of important programs that help Hawaii's seniors, individuals with disabilities, and family caregivers.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 533 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair