STAND. COM. REP. NO.  881

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 909

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 909, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve statewide coordination of infant mortality planning and oversight.  Among other things, this bill:

     (1)  Establishes the Comprehensive Infant Mortality Reduction Program within the Department of Health to establish, administer, and maintain a statewide, comprehensive infant mortality reduction program;

     (2)  Establishes the Hawaii Infant Mortality Reduction Advisory Board, the Board's membership, and the responsibilities of the Board, including the approval of strategic plans to reduce infant mortality in Hawaii;

     (3)  Requires the Department of Health to develop and publish a statewide, comprehensive infant mortality reduction strategic plan to reduce infant mortality in Hawaii;

     (4)  Requires licensed birthing facilities to submit reports to the Department of Health containing information concerning pre-term births and other birth information, and establishes the minimum content requirements of each report; and

     (5)  Appropriates funds for epidemiological and planning activities related to infant mortality, to collect and analyze Hawaii-specific infant mortality data, and to identify social determinants of health related to infant mortality.

The Executive Office on Early Learning and March of Dimes Foundation Hawaii Chapter testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health and Healthcare Association of Hawaii provided comments. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Leaving the appropriation amount unspecified to facilitate further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 909, H.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.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair