STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3294

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2337

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2337, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE OFFICE OF THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and fund six long-term care ombudsman positions within the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Mayor's Office for the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, AARP Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, and nine individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committee finds that ombudsman positions are critical to ensuring that long-term care facilities are providing appropriate and compassionate care and that long-term care residents receive the services they need.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the preamble to clarify that the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program lacks sufficient staff to visit each facility on a quarterly basis;

(2) Changing the number of funded positions from six full-time equivalent positions to five full-time equivalent positions and making conforming amendments;

(3) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(5) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2337, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2337, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair