STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1142

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 672

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

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. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program within the Department of Education;

     (2)  Establish a dedicated special fund for the program;

     (3)  Establish positions within the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to support the program; and

     (4)  Make appropriations to fund student health initiatives.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Executive Office on Early Learning, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Project Vision Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Child Protection Center, Hui for Excellence in Education, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, IMUAlliance, American Organization of Nurse Executives Hawaii, and fifteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Academy of Pediatrics Hawaii Chapter.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Budget and Finance, and Hawaii Primary Care Association.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program has expanded access to health services for many of the State's students.  Your Committee further finds that the partnerships that the Department of Education has formed with other state and private entities have created a foundation upon which an expanded program may be built.  Your Committee additionally finds 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.  This measure will formally establish and expand the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program to offer improved access to healthcare to Hawaii's students.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Expanding the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program to include pre-kindergarten;

     (2)  Adding an appropriation for one full-time equivalent coordinator position within the Department of Education to help plan and coordinate the program; 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. 672, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 672, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair