Report Title:

Respite Care Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to provide respite care services to families providing home care to a family member who has special needs.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

76

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR RESPITE CARE SERVICES FOR FAMILIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that families are the greatest resource for their children and are the major providers of care and support for them. Children with or without disabilities need families and enduring relationships in a nurturing environment. For families with individuals with special needs, providing daily care in their own home includes additional challenges such as higher financial outlays, and physical and emotional stress and isolation. The last major appropriation for respite care was made in Act 324, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990, for $1,000,000, to help families who provide home care to their son or daughter with special needs, by providing them with support services and training.

The legislature further finds that the respite care budget has not increased since 1990, although several budget cuts have been made over the years that significantly reduced the funds for respite care. For example, in fiscal year 1999-2000, $624,128 was allocated for respite care, resulting in fewer families being served and in less money for each family. The legislature further finds that there are approximately 5,500 families who are in need of respite care services in order to maintain their son or daughter at home rather than being institutionalized, however, because of budget cuts, only 1,238 families could be served in 1999-2000. For many families, the department of health's respite program is their only source of support. The respite program allows families to choose their own care providers.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for respite care services to families providing home care to a family member with special needs.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,306,200, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2002-2003, for the provision of support services and training to families and caregivers who provide home care to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness, and for the establishment and development of respite care services to families providing home care to a family member who is:

(1) An infant or toddler (from birth through three years of age) with a developmental delay;

(2) An adult with mental illness;

(3) A child or adolescent with an emotional disability;

(4) A child with a serious or chronic illness; or

(5) A child or adult with a developmental disability.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated by this Act shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

INTRODUCED BY:

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