STAND. COM. REP. NO.  718

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 672

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 672, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the Department of Education's strategic efforts to address students' physical, mental, and social-emotional health through school programs and partnerships that support health and well-being by expanding the Department's Hawaii Keiki: Healthy and Ready to Learn Program to all 15 school complex areas statewide and adding preventative oral health education services to the Program.

The Department of Education; State Public Charter School Commission; University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; Executive Office on Early Learning; American Diabetes Association; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Public Health Institute; Hawaii State Center for Nursing; Hawaii Pacific Health; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Kapiolani Child Protection Center; IMUAlliance; Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services; American Organization of Nurse Executives; Prime Care Services Hawaii, Incorporated; and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The American Academy of Pediatrics – Hawaii Chapter supported the intent of the measure.  The Department of Health and Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including other health-care educators, including the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; providers; and other health-care and education stakeholders as entities with which the Department of Education must collaborate to increase access to and reimbursement for school-based wellness and health services;

     (2)  Specifying that the Hawaii Keiki: Healthy and Ready to Learn Special Fund will be administered by the Department of Education;

     (3)  Modifying the manner by which and reasons for which moneys in the Hawaii Keiki: Healthy and Ready to Learn Special Fund can be expended; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 672, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 672, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair