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HCR 114

REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING TO PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA CENTER ON AGING TO ESTABLISH A KUPUNA WORKFORCE INNOVATION HUB TO IMPLEMENT SHORT-TERM STRATEGIES OUTLINED IN THE 2025 STRENGTHENING HAWAII'S LONG-TERM DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE STRATEGIC PLAN.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gregg Takayama

Create a Kupuna Workforce Innovation Hub with UH Manoa Center on Aging to implement the 2025 direct care plan, boosting recruitment, training, and data-driven policy.

Referred to HLT, HED, referral sheet 22
#directcareworkforcedevelopmentstrategicplan #eoa #long-termcare #reports #uh
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Bill Summary · HCR 114

Summary: HCR 114 — Kupuna Workforce Innovation Hub to Implement 2025 Direct Care Workforce Plan

Overview

HCR 114 is a concurrent resolution that requests the Executive Office on Aging (EOA) to partner with the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Aging to establish a Kupuna Workforce Innovation Hub. The hub would implement the short-term strategies outlined in the 2025 Strengthening Hawaii's Long-Term Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan. The resolution also directs ongoing stakeholder engagement and data gathering to address Hawaii’s direct care workforce needs.

Purpose and intent

  • Acknowledge the importance of direct care workers to Hawaii’s long-term care system and the need to elevate wages, benefits, and career opportunities.
  • Align Hawaii with national trends in direct care workforce development while addressing state-specific pressures (e.g., worker migration).
  • Leverage UH Manoa Center on Aging to translate the 2025 strategic plan into actionable, short-term steps.

Key provisions

  1. Establishment and partnership

    • The EOA is requested to partner with UH Manoa Center on Aging to establish a Kupuna Workforce Innovation Hub.
    • The hub will implement short-term strategies from the 2025 plan.

  2. Stakeholder engagement and data gathering

    • The EOA is asked to support UH Manoa Center on Aging in continuing stakeholder meetings and data collection to address issues related to Hawaii’s direct care workforce.

  3. Preliminary steps to be implemented by UH Manoa Center on Aging

    • Meet with key stakeholders to advance objectives and strategies aimed at recruiting and retaining direct care workers statewide.
    • Standardize core competencies in aging for direct care workers and strengthen training with expanded curricula and continuing education to meet those competencies for caring for older adults.
    • Enhance understanding of gaps and needs among direct care workers and employers to implement effective policies and workforce strategies (e.g., career pathways and lattices).

  4. Reporting requirements

    • UH Manoa Center on Aging must submit a findings and recommendations report (including any proposed legislation) to the EOA for inclusion in the EOA’s annual report no later than 40 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2026.
    • The EOA must include the Center on Aging’s findings and recommendations in its annual report to the Legislature.

  5. Communications

    • Certified copies of the Concurrent Resolution will be transmitted to the Director of Health, Director of the EOA, President of the UH System, and Interim Director of the UH Manoa Center on Aging.

Affected entities

  • Primary: Executive Office on Aging (EOA); University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Aging.
  • Stakeholders: Direct care workers, long-term care employers, older adults (kupuna), health and aging service providers, and related state agencies (e.g., UH System leadership).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Referred to HLT (House Committee on Labor and Tourism) and HED (House Committee on Economic Development), referral sheet 22. Companion bills exist (SCR 25; HR 110).
  • Introduced: March 14, 2025.
  • Legislative actions: Public hearing and committee consideration occurred on May 1, 2025; substitute approved and reported favorably on May 1, 2025.
  • Reporting timeline: UH Manoa Center on Aging report due 40 days before the 2026 Regular Session convening; EOA to include findings in its annual legislative report.

Related legislation

  • SCR 25 (companion)
  • HR 110 (companion)

Potential impact

  • Creates a formal, collaborative framework to accelerate short-term improvements in recruitment, retention, training, and career pathways for Hawaii’s direct care workforce.
  • Establishes standardized aging-related competencies and expanded training, potentially improving care quality for older adults.
  • Produces data-driven recommendations and potential legislative proposals to shape future workforce policy. As a resolution, it expresses intent and guidance rather than creating mandatory funding or new law by itself.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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