STAND. COM. REP. NO.  14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 684

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 684 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the Safe Sleep Policy by requiring:

(1)  Child care operators and employees to place a child less than a year of age on the child's back for sleeping unless a written waiver is obtained and to complete training in safe sleep practices annually;

(2)  Child care operators to discuss the policy with the child's parent or legal guardian before the child enrolls in the child care facility, with the parent or guardian attesting that a copy of the policy was received and discussed; and

(3)  Child care facilities to promptly report to the Department of Human Services (DHS) the death of a child less than a year of age that occurs in a child care facility.

Numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The DHS opposed this measure.  The Hawaii Children's Action Network and three individuals commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2075, to facilitate further discussion.

Your Committee notes that DHS is in the process of addressing issues and concerns regarding deaths associated with sudden unexpected infant death and sudden infant death syndrome through changes to its administrative rules.  On January 4, 2017, DHS issued proposed amendments to Section 17-891.1, Hawaii Administrative Rules, Registration of Family Child Care Homes, and Section 17-895, Licensing of Infant and Toddler Child Care Centers.  The public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled for February 6, 2017.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 684, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 684, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

DEE MORIKAWA, Chair