STAND. COM. REP. NO. 932

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 10

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 10, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize Department of Education employees and trained volunteers to administer insulin to students with diabetes;

 

     (2)  Authorize Department of Education employees and trained volunteers to administer auto-injectable epinephrine in an emergency situation to students with anaphylaxis; and

 

     (3)  Empower students to self-manage their diabetes by permitting students with diabetes to perform their own blood glucose checks, administer insulin, possess all necessary supplies to perform diabetes monitoring, and otherwise attend to the care and management of their diabetes during any school-related activity.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association; American Diabetes Association; Special Education Advisory Council; Seven-Eleven Hawaii, Inc.; Walgreen Co.; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; and fifteen individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that students with diabetes or anaphylaxis must work to manage their conditions.  Even with close monitoring of diabetes or careful avoidance of allergens by students with anaphylaxis, emergencies happen that require quick response to avoid major medical complications or even death.  Whether due to age, disability, or the effects of a diabetes or anaphylaxis emergency, some students need assistance to administer medication.  School volunteers are important supports for students with diabetes and anaphylaxis, as they bolster the resources available to students in emergency situations.

 

Your Committee further finds that in the normal course of diabetes management, glucose monitoring and timely administration of medication help maintain normal blood sugar levels.  This measure empowers students to manage their diabetes by permitting them to carry necessary medical supplies and attend to their own care during all school-related activities.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that a student's parent or guardian shall provide the Department of Education with a written certification from the student's physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant stating that the student with diabetes may perform the student's own blood glucose checks, administer insulin through the student's insulin delivery system, and otherwise attend to the student's diabetes during any school-related activity, and possess on the student's person all necessary supplies and equipment to perform diabetes monitoring and treatment activities pursuant to the student's medical management plan during any school-related activity;

 

     (2)  Requiring the parent or guardian of a child with diabetes, who may receive assistance from a school volunteer, to provide the child's school with any supplies necessary to administer insulin, and requiring the school to store those supplies in a secure but accessible location; and

 

     (3)  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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 10, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 10, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair