STAND. COM. REP. NO.  503

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 658

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 658 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to take proactive measures to prevent tooth decay among children by requiring:

(1)  The Director of Health to participate in a national database managed by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors;

(2)  The Department of Health to:

(A)  Establish and administer a school-based dental sealant program in a high-need demonstration school;

(B)  Determine a plan to establish a statewide school-based dental sealant program; and

(C)  Submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2015 Regular Session on its efforts to prioritize prevention of tooth decay among children in the State; and

(3)  Appropriate funds to establish and administer the school-based dental sealant program in a high-need demonstration school including plans to implement the program statewide.

The Department of Education, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, American Dental Hygienists' Association, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Health, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and an individual supported the intent of this measure.  Hawaii Dental Association opposed this measure.  The Board of Dental Examiners and two individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee encourages the Department of Health to partner with community health centers to increase children's access to dental care.

     Upon consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Deleting the requirement that the Director of Health participate in the National Oral Health Surveillance System;

(2)  With respect to establishing and administering a school-based dental sealant program, requiring a dentist to be available for consultation; and

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

     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 H.B. No. 658, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 658, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair