STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1312

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 652

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 652, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CAREGIVERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Caregiver Workforce Support and Development Center within the Department of Health's Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from AARP Hawai‘i, Gimme a Break, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Family Caregiver Coalition, and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing a severe health care workforce shortage, particularly within long-term care settings. While various efforts exist to increase the number of professionally trained health care personnel in the State, little attention has been given to existing non-professional caregivers and the essential role they play in meeting the caregiving demands of their family members or friends. In recognition of the vital care caregivers provide, this measure establishes the Caregiver Workforce Support and Development Center to develop, educate, and train caregivers, including existing and unpaid caregivers.

Your Committee notes the testimony submitted by the Executive Office on Aging requesting $100,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment of the Workforce Development and Support Center. The funds appropriated for fiscal year 2023-2024 would facilitate the development of professional standards of care and the identification of resources and gaps in the system for paraprofessional workers and family caregivers. The funds appropriated for fiscal year 2024-2025 would facilitate the implementation of a statewide recruitment and retention marketing campaign. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider an appropriation amount of $100,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Executive Office on Aging shall establish a Workforce Development and Support Center, rather than a Caregiver Workforce Support and Development Center;

(2) Requiring the Workforce Development and Support Center to develop a Workforce Pilot Project, support caregivers through education and training, and develop an active aging strategy related to kupuna and kupuna caregiver health;

(3) Specifying that the purpose of the Workforce Pilot Project is to identify existing resources and gaps in the system for paraprofessional workers and family caregivers, develop a statewide recruitment and retention campaign to attract residents to the health care workforce, and develop certain standards for the nonclinical direct care workforce that provides long-term care;

(4) Specifying that the education and training provided by the Workforce Development and Support Center to support caregivers includes active aging programs and resources, programs for informal caregivers, and professional development courses for existing employers and employees;

(5) Requiring the Workforce Pilot Project to terminate on June 30, 2026;

(6) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(7) Inserting an effective date of June 30, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(8) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 652, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 652, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair