STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1156

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 259
                                        H.D. 3
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education
and Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 259, H.D. 3,
entitled: 

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide access to early
childhood screenings for psychological, cognitive, language,
motor, and behavioral or social-emotional development.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this
measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of
Health (DOH), Department of Education (DOE), Hawaii State
Teachers Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii
Chapter American Physical Therapy Association, Hawaii Early
Intervention Coordinating Council, Good Beginnings Alliance, and
Project SEEK.

     Under this measure, screening and certification of screening
for children between two and three years old may be provided by
the child's pediatrician, any primary health care provider, the
DOH, or the DOE.  The DOH, in conjunction with the DOE,
University of Hawaii, and American Academy of Pediatrics is
required to plan and develop standardized screening, access to
screening, means to certify a child as being screened, and a plan
to achieve universal screening.  This measure also appropriates

 
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an unspecified sum to the DOH to develop standardized screening
and referral protocol.

     Your Committees find that recent research has demonstrated
that the early years of a child are most crucial in a child's
cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development.
Neuroscience research in early brain development affirms not only
the tremendous opportunities for prevention work with children
and families, but also the predictable, costly consequences of
not doing so.

     Your Committees further find that early screening,
identification, and intervention for developmental delays and
psychosocial problems improve children's outcomes, and have a
critical influence on school success and family functioning.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its
contents and inserting S.B. No. 533, S.D. 1, which makes the
following amendments:

     (1)  Provides for screening within ninety days prior to or
          following the third anniversary of birth, for
          psychological and physiological development;

     (2)  Requires that the screening and certification be
          provided;

     (3)  Requires the DOH, Department of Human Services (DHS),
          and American Academy of Pediatrics to develop
          standardized screening and referral protocols; and

     (4)  Deletes from the list of items the DOH, DHS, and
          American Academy of Pediatrics are to plan and develop:
          access to screening; means to certify that screening
          has occurred; and a plan with benchmarks and time
          limits to achieve universal screening.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Health and Human Services and Education and
Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are
in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 259, H.D. 3, as
amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the
form attached hereto as H.B. No. 259, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, and be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1156
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                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Health and Human
                                   Services and Education and
                                   Technology,



____________________________       ______________________________
DAVID Y. IGE, Chair                SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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