STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2641

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.R. No. 23

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 23 entitled:

 

"SENATE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A HAWAII STATE FALL PREVENTION TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE APPROACH TO REDUCING FALLS AMONG OLDER ADULTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a Hawaii State Fall Prevention Task Force to develop a statewide approach to reducing falls among older adults.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii, the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs, the Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, and three individuals.  Comments on this measure were submitted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that one third of elders in our communities fall each year, and that monetary and emotional costs to the elders and their families are large.  Your Committee also finds that many of these falls are preventable, and that it is important to find ways to educate elders on prevention tactics and to facilitate active prevention.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure to designate a specific convener, designate the chair of the task force, and determine what entity is responsible for drafting legislation.  Your Committee has also made technical, nonsubstantive stylistic changes for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 23, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 23, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

		____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair