HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	105
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the Department of Human Services to convene a task force to increase community care foster family home accessibility for private-pay individuals.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, community care foster family homes are homes regulated by the Department of Human Services that provide twenty-four-hour living accommodations for not more than three clients; and

 

     WHEREAS, the statutory definition of a community care foster family home, in section 321-481, Hawaii Revised Statutes, generally limits the home's clients to a maximum of one private‑pay client at a time, with the other clients being Medicaid recipients; and

 

     WHEREAS, under certain circumstances, a community care foster family home may have two private-pay clients if the two private-pay clients are married to, or in a civil union with, each other and if various other conditions are satisfied; and

 

     WHEREAS, the law does not allow two individuals who are not married, or not in a civil union with each other, to reside in the same community care foster family home if both individuals are private-pay clients; and

 

     WHEREAS, this restriction can make it difficult for some individuals who are in a relationship to find long-term care in the same home; and

 

     WHEREAS, amending section 321-481, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow two unrelated, private-pay individuals to reside in the same community care foster family home could make community care foster family homes more accessible to a portion of Hawaii's aging population, but could also reduce available care for Medicaid recipients; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Human Services is requested to convene a task force to make recommendations for:

 

     (1)  Creating a more expedient application process for private-pay clients who are either married to, or in a civil union with, each other, and who wish to reside in the same community care foster family home; and

 

     (2)  Increasing the availability of community care foster family homes so that two unrelated private-pay individuals may be able to reside in the same community care foster family home; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to comprise the following:

 

     (1)  The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee, who shall serve as the Chairperson of the task force; and

 

     (2)  The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

 

     (3)  The Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division Administrator, or the Administrator's designee;

 

     (4)  One individual from an organization that represents adult residential care home organizations in Hawaii, to be invited by the Chairperson to participate;

 

     (5)  One individual from an organization that represents home health care operators in Hawaii, to be invited by the Chairperson to participate;

 

     (6)  One individual from an organization that represents  case management agencies in Hawaii, to be invited by the Chairperson to participate; and

 

     (7)  Any other individuals deemed relevant and invited by the Chairperson to participate; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services is requested to publish on its website annual statistics on the number of married and civil union private-pay couples who have applied to reside together in a community care foster family home, and the outcomes of those applications; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Human Services is requested to provide administrative support to the task force, as needed; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, if any, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services, Director of Health, and Administrator of the Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Community Care Foster Family Home; Private Pay; Medicaid; DHS; DOH