STAND. COM. REP. NO. 116

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 536

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. 536 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FALL PREVENTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support longer, healthier lives for Hawaii's kupuna by appropriating funds to the Department of Health for a fall prevention and early detection coordinator position.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Elderly Affairs Division of the Department of Community Services, City and County of Honolulu; Maui County Office on Aging; AARP Hawaii; Project Dana; International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142 Hawaii; and three individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committees find that falls are among the leading causes of hospitalization and severe injury among the elderly.  On average for Hawaii, 85 seniors die, 1,960 are hospitalized, and 8,700 are treated in emergency departments as a result of falls every year.  Although a preventable occurrence, falls can seriously affect the quality of life for the elderly and also impact healthcare costs for the community.  In Hawaii, falls among older adults result in almost $1,200,000 in hospital and physician charges.

     Your Committees further find that Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, established a fall prevention and early detection coordinator position within the Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch but only funded the position for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.  Your Committees recognize that fall prevention programs and services need continued support in order to serve Hawaii's kupuna and address this important public health issue.

     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. 536 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