Report Title:

Department of Health; Program Staff; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the preschool developmental screening program, the family health services division, and the injury prevention and control section to maintain existing staff and hiring additional staff members.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

204

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to the department of health.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that as the state population increases, the health needs of Hawaii's residents also increase.  The department of health provides important services, programs, and resources statewide to prevent disease and injury, promote health and well-being, and strengthen families and communities.  As Hawaii's population continues to grow, the department needs to keep up with the increased demand for public health services and programs.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of health so it can continue to maintain its existing staff and hire additional professionals to provide health services and programs.

PART I

     SECTION 2.  The preschool developmental screening program under the department of health is the only statewide program that provides free developmental and behavioral screening, and coordinates follow-up services for three to five year-old children.  Studies have shown that sixteen per cent of children have disabilities, including speech and language delays, developmental or learning disabilities, and emotional or behavioral problems, but only thirty per cent of these children receive early detection before they enter school.  Moreover, the percentage of mental health problems is higher among children within the at-risk category.  Early developmental screening and follow-up services help children maximize their abilities and prevent new problems from occurring in the future.

     The preschool developmental screening program staff provides systematic and effective early screening services to children who ordinarily would not have the resources or access to these services.  In 1996, the source of preschool developmental screening program staff funding was converted from the state general fund to federal Title V funding after all state programs received state funding cuts.  Currently, a Title V Block Grant funds preschool developmental screening program staff positions, but the level of funding has not kept up with inflation, payroll increases for collective bargaining, and increases in fringe benefit costs.  The department of health's family health services division intends to implement its long term plan to delete direct service programs from Title V funding to work within the constraints of its federal allocation.  Converting the funding source of preschool developmental screening program staff positions back to the state general fund will allow preschool developmental screening program to continue to provide vital developmental screening services to young children.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $260,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for five permanent state-funded positions for a preschool developmental screening program to allow the program to continue to provide services to young children.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

PART II

     SECTION 4.  The family health services division aims to ensure that all families, women, men, pregnant women, parents, infants, children, children with special health needs, and adolescents receive quality prevention and intervention services based on their individual needs.  A registered nurse is needed to administer and coordinate the programmatic aspects of the comprehensive primary care services program.  There are clinical aspects related to the quality assurance reviews that require the knowledge and skills of a registered nurse.  Currently, family health services division hires an outside consultant for several of the clinical oversight activities for the department, but it is expensive and impracticable for family health services division to continue to pay for an outside consultant that can only address a fraction of the responsibilities that a registered nurse on staff can provide.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $60,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the department of health family health services division to hire and maintain on its staff a permanent state-funded registered nurse V position to administer and coordinate the programmatic aspects of the comprehensive primary care services program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.


PART III

     SECTION 6.  An effective injury prevention and control program is an integral component of a comprehensive emergency medical service program.  Injury prevention is the first phase of emergency medical care that deals with medical attention from the onset of life threatening injury or illness until the arrival at an appropriate medical facility.

     The injury prevention and control program serves as the department of health's focus for injury and violence prevention information and initiatives statewide.  Currently, this program needs a planner who will be responsible for building the injury and violence prevention agenda and engaging staff and stakeholders in this process.  The planner will also be responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating injury and violence prevention strategies and interventions; developing and supporting policies, regulations, and legislation; and initiating and supporting coalitions and partnerships that support these efforts.

     SECTION 7.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $41,500, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the injury prevention and control program to hire and maintain on its staff a qualified individual (planner IV position) to be responsible for building the injury and violence prevention agenda and engaging staff and stakeholders in the process.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

PART IV

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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