STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1508

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1176

      S.D. 1

      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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1176, S.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 Improvement Act of 2004, to provide early intervention services for certain children who are three to five years of age.

     The Department of Education, Hawaii Down Syndrome Congress, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Good Beginnings Alliance supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Health (DOH), Center on Disability Studies, Hawaii Early Intervention Coordinating Council, and a concerned individual opposed this bill.

     Your Committee understands the importance of meeting the diverse needs of children with disabilities and their families.  However, it also recognizes the need to provide the state agencies responsible for implementation of services, and the appropriate stakeholders, with sufficient time and resources to determine the impact of proposed changes and develop evidence-based models for implementation.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by replacing its entire contents with the following provisions:

     (1)  Clarifying purpose language;

     (2)  A feasibility study to research the appropriateness of expanding Hawaii's early intervention section to continue services for children three to five years of age, and if deemed appropriate, to design and develop an implementation plan to provide a continuum of services for children three to five years of age who may require services; and

     (3)  An appropriation for DOH to achieve the outcomes of the feasibility study.

     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 S.B. No. 1176, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1176, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair