STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1119

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 531

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 531, H.D. 2, 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.

The Cure Autism Now Foundation, Hawaii Down Syndrome Congress, The Aloha Place, and numerous concerned individuals  testified in support of this bill.  The State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Health, Center on Disability Studies, and Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council opposed this bill.  The Department of Education offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 531, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 531, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair