HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

684

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 346-152.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§346‑152.7[]]  Safe sleep policy.  (a)  All child care facilities[, which include family child care homes, group child care centers, and group child care homes, as those terms are defined in section 346-151, and infant and toddler child care centers,] that are registered or licensed by the department to provide care for children less than one year of age shall implement and maintain a written safe sleep policy in accordance with any rules that may be adopted by the department to implement the provisions of this section.  The purpose of the safe sleep policy shall be to maintain a safe sleep environment that prevents the occurrence of sudden infant death syndrome and sudden unexpected infant deaths in children less than one year of age.

     (b)  Each safe sleep policy shall require operators of each child care facility and their employees to place a child less than one year of age on the child's back for sleeping, unless the operator of the child care facility obtains a written waiver of this requirement from a health care professional, as defined in rules adopted by the department.

     (c)  The operator of the child care facility shall discuss the safe sleep policy with the child's parent or legal guardian before the child is enrolled in the child care facility.  The child's parent or legal guardian shall sign a statement attesting that the parent or legal guardian received a copy of the safe sleep policy and that the policy was discussed with the parent or legal guardian before the child's enrollment.

     (d)  The operator of a child care facility and the operator's employees shall complete, annually, training in safe sleep practices, which shall be conducted by the department.

     (e)  Every child care facility shall promptly report to the department the death of a child less than one year of age that occurs in the child care facility.

     [(b)] (f) As used in this section:

     "Child care facility" includes a family child care home, group child care home, and group child care center, as defined in section 346-151, and an infant and toddler child care center.

     "Sudden infant death syndrome" means the sudden death of an infant less than one year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation has been conducted, including a complete autopsy, an examination of the death scene, and a review of the clinical history.

     "Sudden unexpected infant death" means the sudden and unexpected death of an infant less than one year of age in which the manner and cause of death are not immediately obvious prior to investigation.  Causes of sudden unexpected infant death include but are not limited to metabolic disorders, hypothermia or hyperthermia, neglect or homicide, poisoning, and accidental suffocation."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2075.



 

Report Title:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; Sudden Unexpected Infant Death; Safe Sleep Policy

 

Description:

Strengthens the safe sleep policy for child care facilities for children less than a year of age, including requiring placement of children on their backs for sleeping, discussing the policy with the child's parent or legal guardian, and establishing notice and annual training requirements.  Requires child care facilities to report to the Department of Human Services the death of a child less than a year of age in such a facility.  (HB684 HD1)

 

 

 

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