STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1412-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2482

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2482, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WELLNESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the temporary Office of Wellness and Resilience as a semi-autonomous entity within the Office of the Governor to support and implement the statewide framework developed by the Trauma-Informed Care Task Force.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, HawaiiKidsCAN, Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Parents And Children Together, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, National Association of Social Workers Hawai‘i Chapter, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that early adverse childhood experiences are traumatic experiences that occur during childhood and include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; chronic neglect; caregiver and household substance abuse; incarceration of a household member; domestic violence; and burdens of economic hardship. Adverse childhood experiences shape the physical architecture of a child's developing brain and can prevent the development of a sturdy foundation for learning, quality health, and positive behavior.

Your Committee further finds that a critical factor in buffering children from the effects of toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences is the existence of supportive, stable relationships between children, their families, caregivers, and other important adults in their lives. While there have been siloed efforts on behalf of state agencies and departments to train the family-serving workforce in trauma-informed care, the Office of Wellness and Resilience established by this measure ensures that the individual reform efforts taken by various agencies to address trauma-informed care will be coordinated and integrated into a statewide framework for trauma-informed care.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2482, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair