STAND. COM. REP. NO. 317

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1139

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1139 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOME VISITING PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a statewide hospital-based early identification and home visiting system to enhance health and safety outcomes, prevent child abuse and neglect, and appropriate funds to the Department of Health to administer the program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Executive Office on Early Learning; Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Child and Family Service; National Association of Social Workers Hawaii; Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers; and 34 individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that home visiting is an effective prevention strategy used by states and communities to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families at risk for adverse health and safety concerns.  Early investment in home visiting programs has been shown to reduce costs associated with foster care placements, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, unintended pregnancies, and other costly preventable outcomes.  Your Committee finds that the establishment of a home visiting program in Hawaii will position the Department of Health to participate in the federal home visiting grant program and thereby improve the health and safety of eligible Hawaii families.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1139, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1139, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair