HB 491 Summary

• Relaxes the thirty-hour per week employment requirement for qualified caregivers under the Kupuna Caregivers Program when the governor declares a state of emergency under HRS §127A-14.

• Establishes two distinct service delivery options for the kupuna caregivers program: traditional service delivery through contracted providers and kupuna caregiver-directed services with shared decision-making authority over budgets.

• Expands the coach's duties to include assisting care recipients and family caregivers with enrollment processes such as completing tax forms, privacy forms, background check forms, and other required enrollment documents.

• Permits allocated kupuna caregivers program funds (up to $210 per week maximum) to be issued directly to either the service provider or the care recipient's financial management service provider upon invoice.

• Redefines the person-centered support plan to identify the care recipient's needs and allow the qualified caregiver to remain employed, developed jointly with the care recipient's qualified caregiver.