STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2098

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1351

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1351, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create and appropriate funds for an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program to provide support and mental health services for children from birth to age five.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Hawaii Association for Infant Mental Health, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Parents and Children Together, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Commit to Keiki, Family Hui Hawai‘i, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Rainbow Schools, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Epic Ohana, Samuel N. & Mary Castle Foundation, and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Early Learning Board, and Executive Office on Early Learning.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of full-time equivalent positions to an unspecified number;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 1351, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1351, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair