STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2463

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2339

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2339 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to establish an Alzheimer's disease and related dementia training program for care workers whose work involves extensive contact with participants or residents in various care facilities and programs. This measure is further intended to specify training curriculum and continuing education requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui County Office on Aging; International Longshore Warehouse Union Local 142; Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter; Kokua Council; and 30 individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department on Aging, Department of Human Services, and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that an estimated twenty-nine thousand individuals in the State suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a progressive brain disease that is the sixth leading cause of death in the nation.

Your Committee further finds that, due to the nature of Alzheimer's disease, there is a high demand for in-home care, adult daycare, assisted living facilities, and care homes. Assistance for most of the daily life activities at these facilities is performed by nurse aides or nursing assistants.

Your Committee notes there is currently no professional expertise on Alzheimer's Disease and related dementia in any Department of Health program. Therefore, it is important to ensure that staff in these facilities are adequately trained to work with people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting section 3, thus eliminating language relating to medicaid reimbursement.

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 S.B. No. 2339, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2339, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health.

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

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RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair