STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2921

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2682

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2682, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEAD POISONING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning January 1, 2025, require physicians to perform or order a test for lead in minor patients at certain intervals, and if the physician performs the test, include the results in the minor patient's record of immunization;

(2) Require the Department of Health to adopt recommendations; and

(3) Provide certain exemptions for the mandatory lead poisoning testing of minors.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaiʻi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!, and four individuals.

Your Committees find that children with lead in their blood above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference level who are not tested miss the opportunity for identification and removal of the lead source. Additionally, other children may be exposed to that lead source if it is not identified and removed. This measure will prevent children from being exposed to lead, identify children already exposed to lead so the source can be removed, and connect families with recommended services.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2682, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair