REPORT TITLE:
Early Childhood Screenings


DESCRIPTION:
Requires parents or guardians of a child to have their child
screened for psychological and physiological development 90 days
prior to or following the child's third birthday.  Makes an
appropriation therefor. (HB259 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        259
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSESSMENTS. 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that recent research has
 
 2 demonstrated that the early years of a child are most crucial in
 
 3 a child's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development.
 
 4 Neuroscience research in early brain development as well as
 
 5 studies in early child development affirm not only the tremendous
 
 6 opportunities for preventable work with children and families,
 
 7 but also the predictable, costly consequences of not doing so.
 
 8 For every one dollar invested in early childhood education and
 
 9 care and early intervention services for children birth to five
 
10 years of age, it is estimated that seven dollars in later
 
11 remediation and special education services may be saved.
 
12      The legislature further finds that early screening,
 
13 identification, and intervention for developmental delays and
 
14 psychosocial problems improve children's outcomes, and have a
 
15 critical influence on school success and family functioning.  The
 
16 state departments of health, education, and human services
 
17 currently provide community health services and education for
 
18 screening and assessment.  However, parents are unaware or choose
 
19 not to partake in these services.  In the meanwhile, their
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 children risk proper screening, evaluation, and if necessary,
 
 2 referrals and treatment.
 
 3      The purpose of this Act is to provide a means for early
 
 4 childhood screening when a child reaches the age of three.
 
 5      SECTION 2.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 6 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
 7 read as follows:
 
 8      "§321-     Early childhood screenings.  (a)  Within ninety
 
 9 days prior to or following the third anniversary of a birth, the
 
10 parents or guardians of a child shall have their child screened
 
11 for psychological and physiological development.  Screening and
 
12 certification of screening shall be provided by:
 
13      (1)  The department of health;
 
14      (2)  The department of education;
 
15      (3)  The department of human services;
 
16      (4)  The child's pediatrician; or
 
17      (5)  Any primary health care provider.
 
18      (b)  As part of the screening and certification process
 
19 required by subsection (a), the department, physician, or
 
20 provider shall:
 
21      (1)  Provide information and referrals to programs and
 
22           services to help remediate any developmental problems
 
23           as revealed by the screening;
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (2)  Inform all parents and guardians of their
 
 2           responsibilities with respect to ensuring that their
 
 3           children's psychological and physiological development
 
 4           is progressing satisfactorily;
 
 5      (3)  Provide assistance and advice to parents and guardians
 
 6           in meeting those responsibilities;
 
 7      (4)  Provide additional screenings or referrals as deemed
 
 8           necessary; and
 
 9      (5)  Use a standardized screening instrument and referral
 
10           protocol as jointly developed by the departments of
 
11           health, education, and human services, and the american
 
12           academy of pediatrics."
 
13      SECTION 3.  (a)  The departments of health, education, and
 
14 human services, in conjunction with the American Academy of
 
15 Pediatrics, shall plan and develop:
 
16      (1)  Standardized screening for the psychological and
 
17           physiological development of a child of three years of
 
18           age, which includes but is not limited to:
 
19           (A)  Cognitive development;
 
20           (B)  Language development;
 
21           (C)  Motor development; and
 

 
 
 
 
 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1           (D)  Behavioral or social-emotional development;
 
 2           and
 
 3      (2)  A referral protocol.
 
 4      (b)  The standardized screening and referral protocol shall
 
 5 be developed by June 30, 2000.
 
 6      SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 7 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $    or so much
 
 8 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 to develop
 
 9 the standardized screening and referral protocol provided for in
 
10 this Act.
 
11      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
12 health for the purposes of this Act.
 
13      SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
14      SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
 
15 provided that:
 
16      (1)  Section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2000; and
 
17      (2)  Section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 1999.