Report Title:

Family Caregiver Support

 

Description:

Allows the Executive Office on Aging to provide family caregiver support program and training by making grants to counties and private entities to supplement federal program.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2023

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO AGING.

 

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

SECTION 1. The National Caregiver Support Program was enacted by Congress as Public Law 106-501 to make grants to states to provide basic services for family caregivers. A family caregiver is an adult family member or another individual who provides informal in-home and community care to an older individual or to a child with mental retardation or developmental disabilities. The basic services to caregivers include information about available resources; assistance to gain access to the services; individual counseling, organization of support groups, and training to assist caregivers in making decisions and solve problems relating to their caregiving roles; respite care to temporarily relieve caregivers from their caregiving responsibilities; and supplemental services to complement the care provided by caregivers. Priority for services is given to caregivers that care for persons having the greatest social and economic need, particularly low-income individuals, and persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

The purpose of this Act is to allow the executive office on aging to provide available State funds, in addition to the federal grant moneys, to implement a program of family caregiver support.

SECTION 2. Chapter 349, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§349-   Family caregiver support. (a) The executive office on aging may use available state funds to supplement grants to the State under the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000, enacted as the National Family Caregiver Support Act, Public Law 106-501. The funds shall be used to provide support services, as defined in the Act, and to provide training for family caregivers, in each county.

(b) The executive office on aging may make grants to county offices on aging or to private providers from funding under subsection (a) to implement this section."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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