STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3492

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 75

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 75 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO LEAD THE STATEWIDE COORDINATION OF SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Health to lead a coordinated interdepartmental effort to reduce the impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in Hawaii, including developing a plan for interagency collaboration to ensure the coordination of support services for individuals and families affected by FASD offered by various state agencies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi FASD Action Group, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hina Mauka, and Early Childhood Action Strategy.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that FASD are a group of conditions that result from prenatal alcohol exposure and can lead to lifelong physical, behavioral, and functional challenges. Your Committee further finds that early detection, prevention, and coordinated interventions are critical to improving outcomes for individuals affected by FASD and their families. Your Committee notes that Act 192, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, required 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 FASD. This measure encourages enhanced state-based coordination, including the coordination of public education, professional training, integrated services, and data collection, to ensure a more effective and efficient response to FASD.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the plan for interagency cooperation requested to be developed by the Department of Health use the results and findings from the three-year pilot program established pursuant to Act 192, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023;

(2) Removing the Judiciary from the list of agencies that provide support services for individuals and families affected by FASD, with which the Department of Health is requested to coordinate in developing the plan for interagency collaboration, because the Judiciary is not a provider of these services;

(3) Extending the deadline for the Department of Health to submit its plan for interagency coordination from before the Regular Session of 2027 to before the Regular Session of 2030;

(4) Amending its title accordingly; and

(5) 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 Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 75, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 75, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair