STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2952

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1776

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1776, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Add a dental examination to existing physical examination requirements for initial attendance of any school in the State; and

     (2)  Require the Board of Education to establish a pilot program to require a physical examination for entry into seventh grade in one complex area.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hale Kipa, American Academy of Pediatrics Hawaii Chapter, and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that currently, children are required to undergo a physical examination only prior to attending school in Hawaii for the first time, unless they play sports.  Back-to-school checkups are often the only visit most children and teenagers have with their doctors.  Requiring children to undergo a physical examination will promote greater wellness for Hawaii's school children.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting its contents and inserting the contents of S.B. No. 2235, S.D. 2, Regular Session of 2014, which require each student to receive a physical examination prior to attending seventh grade beginning with the 2015-2016 school year; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion.

     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 H.B. No. 1776, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1776, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair