STAND. COM. REP. NO.  713

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 204

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 204 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to ensure the continuation of vital health services and programs.  Specifically, this bill appropriates:

     (1)  $260,000 for each year of fiscal biennium 2007-2009, to

          establish 5 permanent staff positions to continue free         developmental and behavioral screening and early

          detection services for 3- to 5-year-old preschool

          children who may be at risk for speech and language

          delays, developmental or learning disabilities,

          emotional or behavioral problems, and other

          disabilities;

(2)  $60,000 for each year of fiscal biennium 2007-2009, to hire and maintain on the Department of Health, Family Health Services Division's staff, a permanent registered nurse V position to administer and coordinate the programmatic aspects of the comprehensive primary care services program, instead of continuing to hire an outside consultant who can only address a fraction of the responsibilities that the permanent registered nurse V could provide; and

(3)  $41,500 for each year of fiscal biennium 2007-2009, for the Injury Prevention and Control Program to hire and maintain on its staff a qualified individual (planner IV position) to be responsible for:

     (a)  Building the injury and violence prevention agenda;

     (b)  Engaging staff and stakeholders in the process;

(c)  Planning, implementing, and evaluating injury and violence prevention strategies and interventions;

(d)  Developing and supporting policies, regulations, and legislation; and

     (e)  Initiating and supporting coalitions and

     partnerships that support these efforts.

     The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council, Seagull Schools, Kapiolani Child Protection Center, Calvary Episcopal Preschool, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health supported the intent of this measure.     

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying that it is the Maternal and Child Health

          Branch and not the Injury Prevention and Control

          Program that is responsible for family violence

          prevention programs;

     (2)  Appropriating funds for the Maternal and Child Health

          Branch, not the Injury Prevention and Control Program,

          to hire a planner; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style,

          clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 204, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 204, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair