| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the availability of a skilled workforce is an essential component of meeting the long-term care needs of Hawaii's residents. The final report of the Hawaii long-term care reform task force, dated June 30, 1997, indicated the need to increase the number of available workers, particularly for in-home and community‑based programs. The report also said that "[w]ithout more paraprofessionals and professionals in these areas, new programs and services will be established to no avail." Since then, an increase in the older adult population and the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have exacerbated the need for more workers to fulfill the multitude of needs throughout the continuum of care. The legislature further finds that the development of a long-term care system to address the continuum of needs for kupuna and the disabled, in part, requires understanding the barriers and challenges faced by providers of services for the aging and disabled, including the ability to hire skilled and competent employees. The legislature further finds that the Healthcare Association of Hawaii periodically conducts workforce studies, including a Hawaii Healthcare Workforce Initiative and a Community Health Needs Assessment, but those studies do not include the needs of home- and community-based services providers. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require completion of a statewide needs assessment to identify the workforce needs of providers of home- and community-based services throughout the State. SECTION 2. (a) The executive office on aging shall contract for a statewide needs assessment that identifies the number of, type of, and competencies needed by workers to fulfill home- and community-based services provider positions throughout the State. (b) The statewide needs assessment shall span across the continuum of care from paraprofessional workers to registered nurses and include positions for nonprofit organizations, for‑profit companies, and government agencies. (c) The statewide needs assessment shall include recommendations for the expansion or development of training and other workforce development programs. (d) The executive office on aging shall include the information gathered by the statewide needs assessment in its master plan for long-term care. (e) The executive office on aging shall submit the statewide needs assessment and its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026. SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that: (1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and (2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act. SECTION 4. 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 2024-2025 for the hiring of a contractor to perform the statewide needs assessment pursuant to section 2 of this Act. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on aging for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the availability of a skilled workforce is an essential component of meeting the long-term care needs of Hawaii's residents. Decades ago, the final report of the Hawaii long-term care reform task force, dated June 30, 1997, indicated the need to increase the number of available workers, particularly for in-home and community‑based programs. The report also said that "[w]ithout more paraprofessionals and professionals in these areas, new programs and services will be established to no avail." Since then, an increase in the older adult population and the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have exacerbated the need for more workers to fulfill the multitude of needs throughout the continuum of care. The legislature further finds that the development of a long-term care system to address the continuum of needs for kupuna and the disabled, in part, requires understanding the barriers and challenges faced by providers of services for the aging and disabled, including the ability to hire skilled and competent employees. The legislature further finds that the Healthcare Association of Hawaii periodically conducts workforce studies, including a Hawaii Healthcare Workforce Initiative and a Community Health Needs Assessment, but those studies do not include the needs of home- and community-based service providers. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require completion of a statewide needs assessment to identify the workforce needs of home- and community-based service providers throughout the State. SECTION 2. (a) The executive office on aging shall contract for a statewide assessment that identifies the number of, type of, and competencies needed by workers to fulfill the home- and community-based service provider positions throughout the State. (b) The statewide assessment shall span across the continuum of care from paraprofessional workers to registered nurses and include positions for nonprofit organizations, for‑profit companies, and government agencies. (c) The statewide assessment shall include recommendations for the expansion or development of training and other workforce development programs. (d) The executive office on aging shall include the information gathered by the statewide assessment in its master plan for long-term care. (e) The executive office on aging shall submit the statewide assessment and its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026. SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs provided for by this Act. SECTION 4. 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 2024-2025 for the hiring of a contractor to perform a statewide assessment. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the executive office on aging for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050. |
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