STAND. COM. REP. NO.  614

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 531

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 531, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to amend Hawaii's early intervention services law to be consistent with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA).

     The Hawaii Down Syndrome Congress, The Aloha Place, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Education (DOE) and State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Health (DOH) and Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council opposed this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Clarifying the provisions of IDEA that pertain to the bill, including ensuring that:

          (A)  Parents of children with disabilities who are served under IDEA are provided with annual notice that contains a description of their rights to elect to receive services, and an explanation of the differences between the services provided by the early intervention section of DOH and by DOE;

          (B)  Services provided include an educational component that promotes school readiness and incorporates pre-literacy, language, and numeracy skills;

          (C)  The right of any child to receive a free appropriate public education under IDEA is not affected;

          (D)  Early intervention services are continued while any eligibility determination is being made for services; and

          (E)  The parents of infants or toddlers with disabilities provide informed, written consent to the State before the infants or toddlers reach three years of age, as to whether the parents intend to choose to continue early intervention services for their infants or toddlers;

          and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 531, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 531, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair