STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2768

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2350

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2350 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a task force within the Department of Health to identify therapies and home- and community-based care services that may benefit persons having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including therapies and treatments that may benefit them as adults; and

(2) Require the task force to submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that many persons who have been diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder face profound challenges in navigating the State's present system of care. Many individuals with diagnoses on the spectrum cope with lifelong physical, cognitive, or behavioral disabilities but age out of eligibility for care services once they become adults. The absence of these care services can be devastating for those who face cognitive or behavioral deficits due to their conditions, as approximately fifty percent of persons diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder ultimately become involved with the criminal justice system. This measure helps in the identification of therapies and home- and community-based care services that may benefit persons having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including therapies and treatments that may benefit them as adults.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding representatives to the task force from the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition;

(2) Inserting language that requires the study by the task force to include strategies to reduce the incidence and impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Hawaii;

(3) Inserting language that allows two or more members of the task force to discuss, under certain conditions, matters relating to official business of the task force; and

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

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. 2350, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2350, S.D. 1, 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