STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2548
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2778
S.D. 1
Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui
President of the Senate
Twenty-Sixth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2012
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2778, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to prevent child obesity.
Specifically, the measure appropriates funds to:
(1) Collect and analyze early childhood obesity data pertinent to Hawaii, to identify children at risk;
(2) Increase awareness of the health implications of early childhood obesity;
(3) Promote best practices through community-based initiatives to improve healthy life choices; and
(4) Provide support, including travel reimbursements, for a task force to develop and recommend legislation related to the prevention of childhood obesity.
Written comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Association for Education of Young Children, and the Papa Ola Lokahi-Native Hawaiian Health Board.
Written comments were also submitted by the American Heart Association.
Your Committee finds that obesity is a common condition of chronic diseases, and data suggests that Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are at higher risk of obesity and obesity-attributable health complications.
Your Committee also finds that this measure promotes the prevention of obesity from an early age and raises awareness of its adverse and long-lasting health effects.
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 S.B. No. 2778, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
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____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair |
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