STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1388

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 909

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 909, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INFANT MORTALITY PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce infant mortality in the State.

     The measure proposes to accomplish this objective by, among other things:

     (1)  Establishing a comprehensive infant mortality reduction program within the Department of Health;

     (2)  Appropriating funds to the Department of Health to:

          (A)  Fund epidemiological and planning activities related to infant mortality reduction;

          (B)  Collect and analyze Hawaii-specific infant mortality data; and

          (C)  Identify social determinants of health as they relate to infant mortality; and

     (3)  Establishing a task force that is to be convened by the Department of Health to collect data about the number of elective pre-term pregnancy deliveries in Hawaii and whether Hawaii needs a point-of-care newborn screening program.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health; the Executive Office on Early Learning; and the March of Dimes Foundation, Hawaii Chapter.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

     Your Committee notes concerns that many aspects of the proposed comprehensive infant mortality reduction program are duplicative of policies already in practice at birthing facilities in the State.  Your Committee further notes concerns that the motivation to establish a comprehensive infant mortality reduction program may be based upon the presumption that there are an excessive number of elective pre-term deliveries in the State.  Your Committee believes that, at this time, it is appropriate to focus on the collection of factual information and updated statistics necessary to determine whether the number of elective pre-term deliveries in the State poses a public health threat to allow the Legislature to make an informed determination on whether a comprehensive infant mortality reduction program should be established.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the contents of this measure except the provisions establishing the task force;

     (2)  Adding a purpose section;

     (3)  Inserting an appropriation to reimburse members of the task force for travel and other expenses; and

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of consistency, clarity, 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. 909, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 909, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair