STAND. COM. REP. NO. 13-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1974

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. 1974 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the personal needs allowance from $50 to $75;

(2) Clarify that the needs allowance is not intended to replace or affect funds received from the federal Supplemental Security Income program;

(3) Require certain long-term care facility operators to pay for generic toiletries, linens, and meals and snacks;

(4) Clarify the individuals who are eligible to receive the needs allowance; and

(5) Require the Department of Human Services to perform an annual review of the needs allowance and report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Community Home Care Association of Hawaii, AARP Hawaiʻi, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that the needs allowance for individuals residing in long-term care facilities has not increased since 2007. Your Committee further finds that increasing the personal needs allowance to compensate for the rising cost of goods and services will better enable individuals living in long-term care facilities to make personal purchases of goods and services. These personal purchases allow for more self-determination and choice by individuals living in these settings and provide increased opportunities for them to participate in their communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required operators to maintain records regarding how money from the personal needs allowance was spent; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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. 1974, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1974, 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