STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1712

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 522

      S.D. 1

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 522, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, 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 with respect to child care facilities registered or licensed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) by requiring these facilities to:

(1)  Place any child less than a year old on the child's back to sleep unless an alternate sleep position is authorized by written instruction on file at the facility;

(2)  Discuss the Safe Sleep Policy with the child's parent or legal guardian before the child is enrolled in the facility;

(3)  Ensure all employees, household members, and volunteers of the facility complete training in safe sleep practices upon hire and annually thereafter; and

(4)  Report the death of a child, employee, or household member, and any illness or injury received at the facility that results in a child's hospitalization to DHS within one working day of the occurrence.

Several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Health, DHS, and Hawaii Children's Action Network commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 522, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair