STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3409

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2053

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2053, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Fall Prevention and Early Detection Coordinator within the Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch of the Department of Health to coordinate the provision of public and private fall prevention and early detection services for the elderly.

 

     The measure also appropriates an unspecified amount from the trauma system special fund to fund the Fall Prevention and Early Detection Coordinator position.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Comforting Hands Hawaii, the Hawaii Fall Prevention Consortium, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, American Medical Response, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries and injury-related hospitalizations among the elderly in Hawaii.  Your Committee recognizes that fall prevention is critical for the safety and well-being of the State's elderly residents.  Accordingly, your Committee believes that this measure will promote a statewide approach to prevent injuries and detect fall occurrences among the elderly.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2053, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair