Commission on Aging

Corporate body

Commission on Aging

1958-1977

The Commission on Aging existed from 1963 to 1977, but its records include those of two quasi-official predecessor agencies and date from 1958. It was concerned primarily with the development and coordination of plans, policies and activities for the elderly. The records consist of minutes and agendas of commission meetings.

There were two quasi-official predecessor agencies:
The Committee on Aging and Chronic Diseases, 1958-1959. It was established within the Department of Health on July 17, 1958, by the Director of Health, who also appointed its
members. It met five times between September 26, 1958 and February 16, 1959.
The Interim Commission on Aging. 1959-1964. When legislation to create a Commission on Aging failed to be reported out of committee, the Governor appointed an Interim Commission by "informal executive order." It was chaired by the Director of Health, first met on July 20, 1959, and met approximately monthly thereafter. Although it lost any official standing when the Commission on Aging was created by Act 198 on June 5, 1963, the Interim Commission continued to function until the Governor appointed the members of the new Commission. The Interim Commission last met on October 8, 1964.

Organizational Relations: Independent commission of not less than 21 nor more than 27 members, appointed by the Governor, and placed in the Department of Budget and Review (later Budget and Finance) for administrative purposes.
Functions:
To:
• Provide a mechanism by which governmental and non-governmental agencies could coordinate their plans, policies and activities with regard to aging;
• Create public awareness and understanding of the needs and potentials of olderpersons;
• Encourage state departments, universities and other appropriate agencies to conduct needed research in the field of aging, and to carry out such research if it could not be done by other agencies;
• Recommend legislative and administrative action on behalf of the aging;
• Review legislation pertaining to older persons and appropriations made for services on their behalf in fields such as health, social welfare, education, employment and recreation;
• Consider and recommend to the Governor and to the Legislature any revised and additional appropriations considered to be necessary;
• Appraise the availability, adequacy and accessibility of all services and facilities for older persons within the State of Hawaii;
• Study and report to the Governor and the Legislature on the operations and operating policies affecting older persons of all state and county departments and agencies responsible for providing services for older persons, including agencies responsible for public health, social welfare, education, housing, employment, recreation and retirement;
• Stimulate, guide and provide technical assistance in the organization of local or regional committees on aging, and in the planning and conduct of services, activities and projects;
• Promote the establishment of services to assist middle-aged and older persons in the development of skills, attitudes and interests to prepare them for their later years;
• Maintain contacts with local, state and federal officials and agencies concerned with planning for middle-aged and older persons;
• Cooperate with national groups on aging and arrange for participation by representatives of the State of Hawaii in White House conferences and other national conferences from time to time;
• Administer funds appropriated or otherwise received for its work; and
• Submit and annual report to the Governor and the Legislature.

Act 198, Session Laws of Hawai‘i (SLH) 1963.
Disestablished: By Act 217, SLH 1976.

Prepared 2001-06-29 by Allen H. Hoof.

2021-06-28, Carol Kellett: entered into AtoM.