Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2724 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand the definition of "infants and toddlers with special needs" to include children through the age at which they are eligible to enter kindergarten.

Your Committees received testimony in support of the measure from Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. and nine individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to the measure from the Department of Health and the Department of Education. The Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committees find that this measure will implement the suggestions made by a developmental behavioral pediatrician about providing continued early intervention services to children whose developmental age is younger than their chronological age.

Specifically, your Committees have amended this measure by removing the amendment to the definition of "infants and toddlers with special needs" in section 321-351, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and by creating a new section in chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, entitled "early intervention services for children with developmental delays." The new section directs the Department of Health to create an early intervention services program for children between the ages of three and five years with developmental delays. Your Committees amended the appropriation to be in accord with these changes.

Your Committees also have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Education and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2724, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2724, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.