STAND. COM. REP. NO. 61

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 405

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 405 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 by appropriating funds for a web-based data system in the Department of Health's Early Intervention Section.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Children's Action Network and Transform Hawai‘i Government.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that early intervention services have numerous benefits for children, families, and society.  A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis found an economic advantage of quality intervention services equal to an $8 return for every $1 invested in early intervention.  Society benefits from healthier children, more efficient use of school services, and less use of the criminal justice system.

     Your Committee further finds that the Department of Health's Early Intervention Section data system is paper-based and outdated, and lacks web-based capability for retrieving real-time data, accessibility from multiple locations, and generating reports and billing.  Currently thirty-four states across the country have web-based early intervention data systems.  The Department of Health provides early intervention services through twenty service providers to approximately 3,500 children each year.  Your Committee finds that updating the data system will improve tracking of services and progress of each child, better serve families, and generate better outcomes for Hawaii's keiki.

     Your Committee heard testimony from the Department of Health that the Department has conducted a software assessment and feasibility study to identify ways to modernize the existing software and systems.  The Department testified that the next step is creation of a traceability matrix to prioritize requirements of an updated data system.  Your Committee requested the Department of Health, after consulting with the Department of Human Services about potential collaboration, to submit a written plan regarding how best to begin progress toward implementing a modern, web-based early intervention data system.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 405 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair