STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1017

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1396

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1396, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOMES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to allow two private-pay individuals to be cared for in the same community care foster family home if certain requirements are met.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services and Department of Health.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

 

     Your Committees find that community care foster family homes provide an essential function in the State by providing twenty-four-hour living accommodations, which include housing, supervision, personal care, and assistance with daily living activities for their residents.  Community care foster family homes are licensed to provide accommodations and services to not more than two adults at any one time, at least one of whom shall be a Medicaid recipient, who are at the nursing facility level of care.  However, the Department of Health may certify a community care foster family home for a third adult who is at the nursing level of care and a Medicaid recipient, provided certain requirements are met.

 

     Your Committees further find that as the cost of medical care continues to rise, it is becoming apparent that even those who do not rely on Medicaid for their long-term care cannot afford the cost of private care, leaving this population also with limited options.  This measure recognizes the varied needs of the State's aging population by allowing the Department of Health flexibility to include two private-pay individuals to be cared for in the same community care foster family home under certain qualifying conditions.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1396, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1396, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair