STAND. COM. REP. NO. 316
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 163
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. 163 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Campaign, including funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Services Coordinator position within the Department of Health's Executive Office on Aging.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from AARP Hawai‘i, Iron Workers Stabilization Fund, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Alzheimer's Association, UNITE HERE Local 5, and eleven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health Executive Office on Aging.
Your Committee finds that Alzheimer's disease is a public health crisis across the country and is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Alzheimer's disease also significantly impacts Hawaii. By 2025, it is estimated that over 35,000 Hawaii residents aged sixty-five or older will be living with Alzheimer's disease. A number of new therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration may allow more people to participate in daily activities, remain independent, and decide on the future of their health. These therapies are beneficial at the early onset of the disease, and therefore, early detection and diagnosis are critical. This measure will allow the Executive Office on Aging to organize and carry out a campaign to educate the public on early signs of cognitive impairment, the value of early detection and diagnosis, and the benefits of discussing changes in memory and thinking with health care professionals.
Your Committee notes the testimony
of the Executive Office on Aging and others, stating that the establishment of an
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Services Coordinator position is
unnecessary as the position is already statutorily established and filled within
the Executive Office on Aging and funding therefore is included in the
executive budget. Accordingly, amendments
to this measure are necessary to remove language that requires a portion of the
appropriated funds to establish the position.
Your Committee
requests that your Committee on Ways and Means consider an appropriation amount
of $1,000,000 for the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public
Health Campaign; provided that the appropriation does not reduce or replace
priorities within the Department of Health's budget request regarding the
Executive Office on Aging.
Your Committee has amended this
measure by:
(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount;
(2) Deleting
language that would have required a portion of the appropriated funds to be
used to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Alzheimer's Disease
and Related Dementias Services Coordinator position within the Executive Office
on Aging;
(3) Inserting an effective date of December 31,
2050, to encourage further
discussion; and
(4) 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. 163, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 163, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,
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________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair |
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