STAND. COM. REP. NO. 510

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 984

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 984 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Include advanced practice registered nurses with prescriptive authority in the list of health care professionals authorized to administer medication to public school students; and

(2) Repeal the requirement that administration of the medication be approved by the Department of Health.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Education, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing, American Nurses Association in Hawai‘i, Wai‘anae Intermediate School, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and six individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committees find that the Department of Education is partnering with licensed professionals to increase access to health services, which helps to decrease student absenteeism and facilitate better self-management of chronic health conditions, such as asthma, that might otherwise make it difficult for children to fully participate in class activities. The presence of school-based licensed health care professionals, including advanced practice registered nurses and registered nurses, increases parents' and caregivers' time at work, and principals' and teachers' instructional time. This measure enables advanced practice registered nurses who provide care to school-aged children to work with parents and caregivers to support children's short- and long-term health and reduced health-related barriers to learning.

Your Committees note the concerns raised by the Departments of Education and Health, that it is essential to maintain the approval process with the Department of Health, as some medications may not be appropriate within the school setting.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the administration of the medication is with the approval of the Department of Health or other on-campus, school-based, health care provider pursuant to a written agreement with the Department of Education; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 984, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 984, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair