STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1486

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 672

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 672, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH SERVICES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Formally establish the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program;

 

     (2)  Provide funding to expand and sustain the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program; and

 

     (3)  Appropriate funds to establish school health service coordinator positions in the Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services to increase coordination and facilitate departmental and interdepartmental activities related to comprehensive school-based health services.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Executive Office on Early Learning, State Public Charter School Commission, Project Vision Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Kapiolani Child Protection Center, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hui for Excellence in Education, Hawaii Medical Service Association, American Organization of Nurse Executives Hawaii, IMUAlliance, and seventeen individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Budget and Finance, and Hawaii Primary Care Association.

 

     Your Committees find that non-school factors such as chronic absenteeism, poor health, and delayed or limited access to healthcare and preventive services can impede a student's academic success.  Your Committees further find that school-based services such as early eye screenings and oral hygiene services for vulnerable keiki in pre-kindergarten through high school can improve academic outcomes and increase children's opportunities for economic achievement.

 

     Your Committees additionally find that the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program has expanded access to health services for many of the State's students.  Your Committees note the Department of Education's commitment to interdepartmental collaboration to ensure that this program is reflective of the community's needs.  Furthermore, the Department of Education has identified data sharing and funding for sustainability as priority action areas necessary for the program to sustain and expand.  Your Committees find that an expanded program will be able to offer services in new areas of healthcare that students have not previously had access to in Hawaii's schools.

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 672, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 672, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair