STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3372

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1824

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1824, H.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 appropriate funds for an unspecified number of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Specialist positions within the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman assigned to each county as follows: one for the City and County of Honolulu, one for the County of Maui, two for the County of Hawaii, and one for the County of Kauai.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Long-Term Care Ombudsman, County of Hawai‘i Office of Aging, Alzheimer's Association, Hawaii Civil Rights Center,

AARP Hawai‘i, Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, Protect Leahi & Maluhia ‘Ohana, Kokua Council, Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and twelve individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that long-term care ombudsmen serve as advocates for residents of long-term care facilities to ensure that they receive the quality of care and quality of life they deserve and are entitled to by law. Your Committee further finds that according to a recommendation made by the National Academy of Medicine, Hawaii should have at least six full-time long-term care ombudsmen; however, during the reorganization of the Executive Office on Aging in June 2015, staffing for the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman was reduced from six to one. This measure will replenish the staffing of Hawaii's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to meet national standards and enable the program to protect the health, safety, welfare, and rights of residents of long-term care facilities in accordance with state and federal law.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the appropriation is to fund five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Specialist positions within the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman; and

(2) Making it effective upon its approval.

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 H.B. No. 1824, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1824, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair