STAND. COM. REP. 2015

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2224

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2224 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for home and community-based programs for the elderly.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association – Retired, Kokua Council, Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Services, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and three private citizens. The Department of Human Services submitted testimony in opposition.

Your Committee finds that the state programs such as the Residential Alternative Community Care Program, the Nursing Home Without Walls Program, and Chore Services enable the elderly to live in a community-based setting. Aside from the quality of life benefits which flow from a community-based setting as opposed to an institutional setting, these programs are much more cost effective than hospital services or institutionalization.

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 S.B. No. 2224 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair