STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1477

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 918

       H.D. 1

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 918, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY INTERVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the efficiency and quality of Hawaii's early intervention services for infants and toddlers with special needs, by appropriating funds for a web-based data system in the Department of Health's Early Intervention Section.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Special Education Advisory Council, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children's Action Network, and Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council.

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

     Your Committee finds that the current data system used by the Department of Health's Early Intervention Section is antiquated, lacking the web-based capability for real-time access to data, access from multiple locations, service documentation, report generation, quality assurance, and billing functions.  Your Committee further finds that a web-based system will minimize time spent on completing paperwork, provide more efficiency, and most importantly, will enable providers to maximize time spent in providing direct services to clients.

     If this bill moves forward into a Committee on Conference, your Committee respectfully requests that the Department of Health  determine and recommend the appropriate level of funding required to effectuate this 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 H.B. No. 918, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair