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  • Kupuna Caucus

    Kupuna Caucus

    Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Kupuna Caregivers rally at the State Capitol

    The Kupuna Caucus convenes on the first Friday of every month (unless there is a scheduling conflict). The meetings are open to the public. See below for the upcoming schedule:

    Friday, March 61:45RM 016
    Friday, April 31:45RM 016
    Friday, May 11:45RM 016
    Friday, June 52:00TBD
    Friday, July 102:00TBD
    Friday, August 72:00TBD
    Friday, September 42:00TBD
    Friday, October 22:00TBD
    Friday, November 62:00TBD
    Friday, December 42:00TBD

    2020 Kupuna Caucus Bills

    HB1865/SB2339: Requires the Department of Health to establish an Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia training program for care workers whose work involves extensive contact with participants or residents.

    HB1866/SB2335: Appropriates funds for the healthy aging partnership program to further the program’s role in improving the health and well-being of Hawaii’s kupuna.

    HB1867/SB2342: Amends the total amount of hours per week an individual must be employed to be a qualified caregiver under the kupuna caregivers program from thirty to twenty. Appropriates funds for the proper implementation of the kupuna caregivers program.

    HB1868/SB2338: Lowers the age a person can be exempt from jury duty from eighty years of age or older to seventy-five years of age or older.

    HB1869/SB2341: Amends the definitions of “certificate of disability” and “person with a disability” to allow a person with a disability that does not limit or impair the ability to walk and needs special accommodations to enter and exit their vehicle to be issued a disability parking permit.

    HB1870/SB2336: Requires the thirty-day lapse or termination notices for long-term care policies to be sent by certified mail or commercial delivery services, or other method of delivery requiring proof of delivery. Requires an insurer to provide to an insured notification at each renewal premium of the right to indicate or update a written designation.

    HB1871/SB2333: Requires the Executive Office on Aging to report on its assessment of progress made toward the reported goals of the long term care commission and make recommendations as needed to accomplish these goals. Appropriates funds.

    HB1872/SB2337: Appropriates funds to the office of the long-term care ombudsmen for six full-time ombudsmen specialist positions; two each on Oahu and Hawaii and one each on Kauai and Maui.

    HB1873/SB2340: Establishes an outreach program in the Department of Health to inform physicians and appropriate non-physician practitioners participating in medicare that comprehensive care planning services for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is a covered benefit under medicare.

    HB1874/SB2334: Lowers the age of crimes against seniors to sixty years of age, and make certain criminal offenses against seniors applicable regardless of the perpetrator’s knowledge of the victim’s age.

  • Elevated Pedestrian Walkway in Kakaako

    The State Department of Transportation (DOT) and Ward Village have begun meetings and work on the elevated walkway that will bring a safe, pedestrian experience crossing over Ala Moana Boulevard.  The initial work has included sitting down with the local Federal Highways team to ensure everyone is aligned to move this public private partnership forward.  To be most efficient in time and cost for the project, Ward Village is taking the lead on initial planning phases of the project, which will ultimately be built by the State DOT, using the recently awarded Federal Grant Funds.  Ward Village has also agreed in principle to provide the needed land space mauka of Ala Moana Blvd for the landing area of the public walkway.  Current timeline highlights include:

    • February 5 – Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) Hearing requesting approval for the Executive Director to enter a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with State DOT and Ward Village regarding the planning work for the project and examination of the landing area at Kewalo Harbor.
    • Upon the execution of that MOU, Ward Village will begin specific planning, design, environmental, and other permit work, in coordination with State DOT.  The environmental work will include an opportunity for public input.  As we can identify timelines for that work, those dates will be shared.  This planning and permitting work will take place over the next, approximately, 18 months
    • June 2021 – Deadline for construction solicitation pursuant to the Federal grant requirements.

    Given the tight timeline to take advantage of the $20 million Federal grant money to bring a safe pedestrian crossing to Ala Moana Blvd., all of the parties have dedicated themselves to working with the community and area legislators through all necessary steps.  We are preparing a project development schedule and a robust communications plan to ensure success.