Allows the Department of Education to conduct a fluoridation program in public elementary schools; requires dental hygiene instruction program in public elementary schools.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that children in Hawaii have tooth decay rates that far exceed those documented on the United States mainland, based upon department of health dental health division 1999 findings among public elementary school children statewide. At an average of 3.9 decayed teeth per child, the rate of dental caries among children ages 5 through 9 in Hawaii is 2.1 times the last published United States national average of 1.9. Hawaii's dental caries prevalence rate is among the highest in the nation. The rates among Hawaii's Native Hawaiians (4.2) and Filipinos (5.5) exceed the national average by 2.2 and 2.9 times, respectively. In Hawaii, dramatic variance has been documented between children attending military base schools and children attending schools not associated with military bases. While a variety of factors affect dental health, the fact that Hawaii's military base water systems are optimally fluoridated is considered the major factor contributing to the superior oral health found among military base elementary school students.

Since the mid-1950s, Hawaii's military base drinking water systems have been fluoridated. This policy was implemented and has since been maintained as the most effective means of reducing both the incidence and the severity of tooth decay and the costs associated with dental disease treatment. Research by the department of health has shown conclusively that children in Hawaii suffer from rates of tooth decay that far exceed that experienced by children on the mainland. While an estimated 13 per cent of Hawaii's resident population have access to optimally fluoridated drinking water, this percentage places Hawaii second lowest in the nation. When considering only our non-military population, Hawaii is ranked last.

The legislature further finds that the latest research during the year 2000 found fluoridation of water to be safe. The Honolulu Advertiser published an article on October 6, 2000, stating, "The first examination of 50 years of research on the safety of adding fluoride to drinking water found no evidence of harm, and some experts said the findings should allay lingering fears it could cause cancer, osteoporosis or Down syndrome." The research was published in the British Medical Journal, which also published similar results in a study conducted by Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon.

The legislature further finds that the Office of the United States Surgeon General issued a report on May 25, 2000, which found that, "Community water fluoridation is an effective, safe, and ideal public health measure to prevent tooth decay." More importantly, the report also stated, "The major message of this Surgeon General's report is that oral health is essential to the general health and well-being of all Americans and can be achieved by all Americans. What amounts to a 'silent epidemic' of oral diseases is affecting our most vulnerable citizens – poor children, the elderly, and many members of racial and ethnic minority groups..."

The legislature further finds the fluoridation of water is most necessary for school age children, which comprises a small percentage of the overall state population. Therefore, fluoridation efforts should be targeted to elementary school children rather than the general population.

The purpose of this Act is to allow elementary schools in the State to institute water fluoridation and to require dental hygiene instruction.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Water fluoridation program; dental hygiene instruction. (a) The department may conduct a water fluoridation program for the public elementary schools in the State, as follows:

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the department shall provide instruction in each public elementary school on proper dental hygiene including the benefits of fluoridation."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that instruction in each public elementary school on proper dental hygiene and the benefits of fluoridation shall be implemented not later than January 1, 2002.