STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1222-08

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2857

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure standards of quality for the growing home care industry by:

 

(1)  Requiring home care agencies to be licensed by the Department of Health (DOH); and

 

(2)  Appropriating funds for a position in DOH to assist with licensure and monitoring of home care agencies.

 

     DOH and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii supported this bill.

 

     Your committees find that it is necessary to license home care agencies to assure the public that minimum standards are being met.  For example, licensure should require criminal background checks of home care staff who work in the homes of clients to provide personal care services.


     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2857, S.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Housing,

 

 

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair