STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1889
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: S.B. No. 1378
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 1378, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNLICENSED CARE HOMES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Clarify who is prohibited from knowingly referring or transferring patients to an uncertified or unlicensed care facility; and
(2) Repeal the provision that a landlord, under specified conditions, shall not be deemed to be providing home care services or operating a care facility that requires a license.
Your Committee finds that the prevalence of unlicensed care homes and facilities in the State continues to pose significant health and consumer protection issues for Hawaii's elderly and vulnerable populations. The Department of Health continues to take enforcement actions to protect the public, which are critical components of the State's regulatory efforts for consumer protection. This measure aims to provide additional safeguards for the public, protect aged and vulnerable persons, and ensure quality of care by expanding the Department of Health's ability to more thoroughly investigate complaints and enforce the requirement that all residential care homes and other health care facilities, agencies, and organizations be licensed.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying that the legal standard for the unlawful act of referring or transferring patients to an uncertified or unlicensed care facility is negligence, rather than requiring an intent of knowingly for such unlawful acts;
(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1378, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1378, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,
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____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair |
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