STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1755
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 1081
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1081, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR UNLICENSED CARE HOMES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the penalty to be assessed on any person who intentionally operates a care facility without a certificate or license.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and one individual.
Your Committee finds that unlicensed care
homes continue to operate and pose a danger to the public and, in particular,
frail, elderly, and vulnerable populations.
Your Committee further finds that under existing law, there are two
provisions that assess administrative penalties that may be imposed on care
home operators. Under section 321-486.3,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, the fine for each day of uncertified or unlicensed
operation of a care home is only $100 for the first violation, up to a maximum
of $1,000 for subsequent violations. Your
Committee notes that unlicensed care homes charge as much as $8,000 per month
per client for multiple clients. A
penalty under section 321-20(1), Hawaii Revised Statutes, of up to $1,000 per
day regardless of the number of prior violations would be a better remedial
penalty to prevent operators from financially benefiting from operating a care
home without a certificate or license. This
measure will repeal section 321-486.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which is not a
sufficient penalty to deter unlicensed operators from attempting to profit at
the hands of vulnerable elderly and ensures that the more effective penalty as
provided by section 321-20(1), Hawaii Revised Statutes, is available.
Your
Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1081, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1081, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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