STAND. COM. REP. NO. 40-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2112
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No.
2112 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to prevent or lessen the effects
of conditions that could lead to developmental disabilities by
providing a means for early childhood screenings when a child
reaches the age of three.  Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Provides parents or guardians access to developmental
          screening within ninety days prior to and following
          their child's third birthday; and

     (2)  Directs the Departments of Health (DOH), Education
          (DOE), and Human Services (DHS), and the American
          Academy of Pediatrics to develop standardized screening
          and referral protocols.

     The State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities
testified in support of this measure.  Project SEEK, DHS, DOE,
the Good Beginnings Alliance, and the Hawaii Association for the
Education of Young Children testified in support of the intent of
this measure.

     DOH opposed to this measure, stating a lack of funds to
support this proposal.  However, DOH agreed that if given
sufficient resources DOH can assure that three-year-old children

 
 
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will receive developmental screenings and appropriate follow-up
and intervention.

     Even if funding was appropriated, DOH noted that
coordination with DOE is still needed.

     Your Committee finds that since the authorization to provide
early childhood screenings when a child reaches the age of three
is not a mandate and is unenforceable, a more meaningful approach
would be to improve the system of early childhood screenings.

     Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the statutory provisions authorizing a means
          for early childhood screenings when a child reaches the
          age of three;

     (2)  Requiring DOH and DOE to jointly develop a plan for a
          statewide system of developmental and behavioral
          screening, assessment, and intervention for three-year-
          old children;

     (3)  Appropriating $50,000 to plan the statewide system;

     (4)  Providing that the plan be developed by June 30, 2001;
          and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2112, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2112, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair