Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 91 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide a means for early childhood screening when a child reaches the age of three, and directs the Departments of Health, Education, and Human Services, and the American Academy of Pediatrics to develop standardized screening and a referral protocol.

Your Committees received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Education, the Department of Health, Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, and an individual.

Your Committees find that early childhood screening will contribute to achieving the community goal that all children will be safe, healthy, and ready to succeed in school. The early identification and intervention of motor, language, cognitive, and social/behavioral concerns can help to improve children's outcomes and influence school success and family functioning. Infrastructure and resources are not adequate for formal standardized screening for every child, developmental evaluations of children when concerns are identified, training for screeners, and quality assurance.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 91 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.