STAND. COM. REP. NO. 478

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1372

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 S.B. No. 1372 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the definitions of "caregiver support services", "kupuna care services", and "respite care" in section 349-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Policy Advisory Board on Elder Affairs.

Your Committee finds that Act 160, Regular Session of 2022, combined the Kupuna Care and Kupuna Caregiver programs. Currently, the definitions for "caregiver support services" and "respite care" only apply to employed caregivers. It is believed that the greater majority of caregivers fall into the category of caregivers who provide twenty-four-hour care to a spouse, family member, or loved one at home without compensation. Many caregivers are themselves kupuna. This measure will therefore allow for all caregivers, both employed and not employed as caregivers, to receive caregiver support services and respite care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 S.B. No. 1372, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1372, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair