HI HR98

Hawaii's senior population aged 65 and older grew from 7.9% in 1980 to 17.1% in 2016, with continued growth expected through 2030, increasing demand for long-term care options.

The Department of Health's Office of Health Care Assurance regulates adult residential care homes, expanded adult residential care homes, and community care foster family homes, which are subject to numerous requirements including staffing, criminal background checks, building codes, CPR knowledge, and medical records management.

Recent legislation (Act 184, 2016 and Act 148, 2018) has significantly expanded the Department's regulatory authority and enforcement powers, including mandatory unannounced inspections and ability to obtain search warrants for unlicensed facilities.

The House urges the Department of Health to foster a more supportive and cooperative regulatory environment rather than one perceived as intimidating and overly punitive, and to amend administrative rules accordingly.

The Department is urged to provide proactive training, consultation, and educational outreach activities to care facility operators and staff to encourage and enhance compliance with regulations.