STAND. COM. REP. NO. 839

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 534

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 534, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KUPUNA CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the care of elderly persons in the State.

     More specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Requires the Executive Office on Aging to establish the Kupuna Caregivers Program to assist community members in obtaining care for elders, while remaining in the workforce;

     (2)  Makes establishment of the existing Kupuna Care Program mandatory and clarifies the kupuna services and supports provided by area agencies on aging within the program; and

     (3)  Appropriates moneys for the establishment of the Kupuna Caregivers Program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Aging, AARP Hawaii, the Aloha Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the Hawaii Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Caring Across Generations, Faith Action for Community Equity, the Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, the Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Public Health Association, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, Mental Health America of Hawaii, St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, and fifty-nine individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that there is a growing need for long-term care and services for Hawaii's kupuna and that family caregivers often play a vital role in providing long-term care.  However, caregiving can burden families financially, as well as emotionally and physically, and lead to chronic stress for caregivers and emotional harm for kupuna who need care but do not wish to be a burden.  Your Committee further finds that the State should support and assist the efforts of caregivers through a Kupuna Caregivers Program of the Executive Office on Aging.

     Your Committee notes that this measure included appropriations of $600,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019.  Your Committee intends to consider including these appropriations in the measure establishing the State's biennial budget.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making technical amendments to:

          (A)  Remove redundant language from the new provision on service options for the delivery of Kupuna Care Program services and supports; and

          (B)  Clarify the qualifications for care recipients to participate in the Kupuna Care Program;

     (2)  Changing the appropriations from $600,000 for fiscal year 2017-2018 and $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2018-2019 to unspecified amounts; and

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 534, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 534, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair