| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic strained the health care workforce pipeline. While important initiatives to recruit and train new professionals are underway, investment in programs that support existing professional caregivers is needed. Support for unpaid caregivers, such as family and friends, whose caregiving enables people to live at home, is also needed. The legislature also finds that several factors, including burnout, an aging workforce and population, rising costs of living, and greater demand for both institutional and at-home patient care, have increased pressure on paid and unpaid caregivers. The per cent of Hawaii's population seventy-five years old and above is expected to double by 2045, from eight per cent of the population to fifteen per cent. Supporting and retaining existing formal and informal caregivers will be more important than ever as Hawaii's population continues to age. The legislature further finds that supporting caregivers in both home and long-term care settings will ensure that people receive appropriate, timely care. While there has been strong investment in training new employees, there must also be an investment in the existing workforce. It is imperative that new candidates who believe in the mission of health care, and especially in providing services for older adults in post-acute care settings, are recruited and retained. The legislature additionally finds that health care employers and educators are competing with other industries to attract residents to health care programs. A concerted effort to maximize federal dollars to address the health care workforce shortage by creating a robust workforce pipeline will enable the State to attract more local students interested in a self-sufficient career. The purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for a workforce development and support center to develop and expand the State's long-term and home- and community-based caregiver workforce to effectively care for Hawaii's aging population. SECTION 2. Chapter 349, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§349- Workforce development and support center. (a) There is established within the executive office on aging a workforce development and support center. The center shall: (1) Develop a workforce pilot project to: (A) Identify existing resources and gaps in the system for paraprofessional workers and family caregivers; (B) In consultation with members of the education and health care industries, develop a comprehensive statewide recruitment and retention campaign to encourage more residents to enter the health care workforce; and (C) Develop administrative and service standards for the nonclinical direct care workforce that provides long-term care services and supports; (2) Support caregivers through education and training, including but not limited to: (A) Active aging programs and resources that equip caregivers to effectively serve care recipients; (B) Programs developed in consultation with appropriate organizations to educate and train informal caregivers, including familial caregivers, to best practice informal caregiving; and (C) Professional development courses, including interviewing, management, and leadership courses, for existing employers and employees; and (3) Develop an active aging strategy to keep kupuna and kupuna caregivers as healthy as possible. (b) The workforce pilot project identified in subsection (a) shall terminate on June 30, 2026." SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment of a workforce development and support center within the executive office on aging. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on aging for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 2050. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the COVID-19 pandemic strained the health care workforce pipeline. While important initiatives to recruit and train new professionals are underway, investment in programs that support existing professional caregivers is needed. Support for unpaid caregivers, such as family and friends, whose caregiving enables people to live at home, is also needed. The legislature also finds that several factors, including burnout, an aging workforce and population, rising costs of living, and greater demand for both institutional and at-home patient care, have increased pressure on paid and unpaid caregivers. The per cent of Hawaii's population seventy-five years old and above is expected to double by 2045, from eight per cent of the population to fifteen per cent. Supporting and retaining existing formal and informal caregivers will be more important than ever as Hawaii's population continues to age. The legislature further finds that supporting caregivers in both home and long-term care settings will ensure that people receive appropriate, timely care. While there has been strong investment in training new employees, there must also be an investment in the existing workforce. It is imperative that new candidates who believe in the mission of health care, and especially in providing services for older adults in post-acute care settings, are recruited and retained. The legislature additionally finds that health care employers and educators are competing with other industries to attract residents to health care programs. A concerted effort to maximize federal dollars to address the health care workforce shortage by creating a robust workforce pipeline will enable the State to attract more local students interested in a self-sufficient career. The purpose of this Act is to establish a caregiver workforce support and development center to develop and expand the State's long-term and home- and community-based caregiver workforce to effectively care for Hawaii's aging population. SECTION 2. Chapter 349, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§349- Caregiver workforce support and development center. There is established within the executive office on aging a caregiver workforce support and development center. The center may: (1) In consultation with members of the education and health care industries, develop a comprehensive statewide recruitment and retention campaign to encourage more residents to enter the health care workforce; (2) In consultation with appropriate organizations, develop programs to educate and train informal caregivers, including familial caregivers, to best practice informal caregiving; (3) Provide professional development courses, including interviewing, management, and leadership courses, for current employers and employees; and (4) Develop an active aging strategy to keep kupuna and kupuna caregivers as healthy as possible." SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the establishment of a caregiver workforce support and development center within the executive office on aging. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on aging for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000. |
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