STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3060

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2901

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2901, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEARING AND VISION PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to update the purpose of and standards for the State's hearing and vision program for children.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Executive Office on Early Learning, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

 

      Your Committee finds that the early identification of hearing and vision impairment and appropriate follow-up services are critical for the development of the language and communication skills that children need.  Your Committee recognizes the merits in improving hearing and vision screening for children in the State by establishing consistent protocols for screenings and comprehensive data collecting and reporting.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Correcting the text of section 321-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to accurately reflect the printed version of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2901, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2901, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair