Provides a means for childhood screening required for entry into school, when a child reaches the age of four and before the child reaches the age of six (HB3139 HD1).

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that recent neuroscience research demonstrates that a child's early years are the most crucial in the child's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. The legislature affirms that there are tremendous opportunities for preventive work with children and families as well as the predictable, costly consequences of not doing so. The legislature further finds that quality early childhood education and child care that support all aspects of early development are crucial to ensuring that every child starts their formal education healthy, safe, and ready to learn and succeed. A child's ability to function in the classroom is essential. This can be achieved by assuring that each child can hear, see, and speak at a minimal level prior to starting school.

The legislature further finds 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. The ideal is for each child to have ongoing access to quality primary health care and, to the greatest extent possible, a safe home and community environment. However, not all children have access to quality primary health care prior to the start of school. It is in the state's interest to provide physiological screening and assessment that will detect deficiencies and provide corrections before they hinder a child's ability to function in school.

The departments of health, education, and human services currently provide families access to various community health services. However, parents are often unaware of or choose not to avail of these services. Meanwhile, their children do not receive proper screening, evaluation, and referrals for correction or treatment.

The purpose of this Act is to provide a means for a child to be screened prior to the start of the child's formal education when the child is four or five-years-old, and provide for referrals for correction or treatment.

SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§321- Early childhood screenings. (a) Following a child's fourth birthday and before the child's sixth birthday, the parents or guardians of the child shall have the child screened for vision, hearing, and speech development. Screening certification of the child may be provided by:

If the child has does not have a pediatrician or primary healthcare provider, the department may provide the screening or refer the child to a primary health care provider at no cost to the child or family.

Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, a certificate of screening shall be presented to the school where the student enters kindergarten or first grade, whichever is the entry grade level.

The department shall be the lead department in the development of screening guidelines, and shall administer the screening and certification process in collaboration with the department of education.

(b) As part of the screening and certification process authorized by subsection (a), the department, physician, or provider may:

SECTION 3. (a) The departments of health, education, and human services, in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics, shall plan and develop no later than June 30, 2007:

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 to plan, implement, and provide early childhood screenings under this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.