STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1577

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 169

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.R. No. 169 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING TO DEVELOP A STANDARD TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR KUPUNA AND CAREGIVERS ON HOW TO SELECT AND PURCHASE APPROPRIATE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY EQUIPMENT, AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT SUCH AS TABLETS, AND HOW TO OPERATE EQUIPMENT TO ACCESS TELEHEALTH SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Executive Office on Aging to develop a standard training workshop for kupuna and caregivers on how to select and purchase appropriate broadband connectivity equipment, audio-visual equipment such as tablets, and how to operate equipment to access telehealth services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Hawaii Broadband Hui; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging and AARP Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that the State faces a continued shortage of health care providers, making telehealth an important tool that enables individuals to access health care, particularly on the neighbor islands and in rural areas. Your Committee further finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, while demonstrating the effectiveness of telehealth as a mode of essential health care delivery, also underscored the need for broadband infrastructure and digital equity programs to close the digital disparities gap among residents of the State, especially for kupuna and other marginalized communities who face limited broadband access or difficulty navigating the technological aspects of telehealth. This measure will assist the State's kupuna in achieving digital equity in health care by obtaining the necessary equipment and digital literacy to receive needed services through telehealth.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Executive Office on Aging to work in concert with the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office, Hawaii Broadband Hui, and AARP Hawai‘i, to develop the standard training workshop for kupuna and caregivers pursuant to this measure;

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(3) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 169, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 169, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair