STAND. COM. REP. NO. 406

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1459

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1459 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that infants and toddlers from birth to age three years with or at risk for developmental delays receive early intervention services.

     Specifically, this measure provides an emergency appropriation in the amount of $5,299,809 in general funds to cover the costs of early intervention services provided by the Department of Health's Early Intervention Section during the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, County Council- County of Maui, Hawai‘i Early Intervention Coordinating Council, Center on Disability Studies, Hawaii Chapter American Physical Therapy Association, Waianae Coast Early Childhood Services, Inc., Imua Family Services, Easter Seals Hawaii, and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Health has the responsibility to ensure that all children from birth to age three years with a developmental delay or biological or environmental risk and their families receive early intervention services as mandated under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004.

     Your Committee further finds that every year, the Early Intervention Section of the Department of Health requests an emergency appropriation for additional funding due to the insufficiency of each respective year's current appropriation.  Your Committee further finds that federal law mandates that these services be provided and waiting lists are not permitted.  As a result, providers are not being compensated for their services in a timely manner and have to endure undue financial burdens.  It is the intent of your Committee to encourage the Department of Health to work towards alleviating this yearly problem.

     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 S.B. No. 1459 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair