STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1643

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 531

       H.D. 3

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 531, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to study the feasibility of expanding Hawaii's early intervention section to continue services for children three to five years of age.

     Specifically, this measure creates a temporary "Hawaii 3-5 transition" task force convened by the Department of Health to identify the potential number of children for various program services, research evidence-based practices, define an array of services, project costs, conduct a needs assessment of families, and report to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008.  The report is to include recommendations regarding the feasibility of expanding Hawaii's early intervention section to serve children between the ages of three to five years of age with developmental delays and, if feasible, eligibility and service models, and implementation plan, and a timeline to begin services.  The measure also appropriates $120,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 to fund the operation of the task force.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Good Beginnings Alliance, the Hawaii Down Syndrome Congress, the Aloha Place, and eleven individuals.  The Department of Health and the Center on Disability Studies offered comments.

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

     (1)  Clarifying in the purpose section that Section 619 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act implements the earlier landmark Public Law 94-142, known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which ensures a free and appropriate public education for individuals with disabilities;

     (2)  Changing the $120,000 appropriating amount to an unspecified amount for the purpose of facilitating further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 531, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 531, H.D. 3, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair