STAND. COM. REP. NO. 353

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 795

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 795 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE LICENSING OF HOME CARE AGENCIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to the Department of Health for staffing and other initial costs necessary to begin the licensing process for home care agencies.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs Legislative Committee.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Health's intent is for licensing fees charged to home care agencies to cover the administrative costs associated with licensing.  However, initial funding is needed to start the licensing process so that these fees can be collected.  This measure will provide critical first year funding. 

 

     Based on testimony received, your Committee learned that the Department of Health is still collaborating with home care agencies, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders to draft necessary administrative rules to implement the licensing of home care agencies pursuant to Act 21, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing inaccurate language indicating that the Department of Health has already approved administrative rules to implement Act 21, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2009; and

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion of this measure. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 795, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 795, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair