CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 199

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 318

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 318, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Health to establish and administer a three-year pilot program to implement a co-management system of care for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the pilot program and an annual public awareness campaign on preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Your Committee on Conference finds that individuals who are prenatally exposed to alcohol may develop lifelong physical, developmental, behavioral, and intellectual conditions, which are diagnosed as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). While individuals with FASDs share many of the same behavioral characteristics and related mental health diagnoses as those with autism spectrum disorders, individuals with FASDs face unique challenges. This measure establishes a pilot program to determine the feasibility of implementing a co-management system of care to support individuals with FASDs.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the requisite information for making an appropriation in excess of the general fund expenditure ceiling pursuant to article VII, section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Appropriating $450,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the establishment and administration of a three-year pilot program to implement a co-management system of care for the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with FASDs;

(3) Appropriating $35,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the establishment of an annual public awareness campaign on preventing FASDs;

(4) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2023; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 318, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 318, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ JENNA TAKENOUCHI Co-Chair	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair