STAND. COM. REP. NO. 78-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1773

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1773 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEMENTIA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require:

(1) The Law Enforcement Standards Board to develop training materials related to the recognition and signs of Alzheimer's disease and related types of dementia; and

(2) Law enforcement officers to review these training materials for at least one hour per year.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Executive Office on Aging; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi Public Health Association; Alzheimer's Association; AARP Hawaiʻi; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Papa Ola Lokahi; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; Kapalama Neighborhood Security Watch; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that six in ten people with dementia will wander at some point. When individuals with dementia wander and become lost, they may show signs of anxiety, fear, or hostility, which can all escalate to aggressive behaviors. Your Committee therefore finds that dementia training for law enforcement officers is critical to meet the growing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia and decrease potential harm for those who struggle with dementia.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Law Enforcement prefers House Bill No. 2250 to this measure, which combines dementia training with crisis intervention training for all law enforcement officers statewide. However, since House Bill No. 2250 has not yet been scheduled for a hearing, your Committee believes this measure should continue to move forward in the legislative process.

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. 1773, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1773, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair