STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2816

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2387

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2387, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require public school students to undergo a physical examination before seventh grade.

     Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Requires that commencing with the 2017-2018 school year, students receive a physical examination no earlier than twelve months before entering seventh grade;

(2)  Requires that written documentation from a licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse be provided by the child to the appropriate school official showing the completion of the physical examination within the twelve-month time period;

(3)  Authorizes a student who has not received a physical examination to attend seventh grade on a provisional basis if the student's parent or guardian certifies that the student has an appointment to receive a physical examination; and

(4)  Requires the Department of Education to notify parents and guardians of students of the physical examination requirements as soon as practicable after students have left sixth grade.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and one individual.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that only students entering school for the first time, usually at the kindergarten level, are required to complete a physical examination.  Your Committee further finds that many years can pass between kindergarten and a child's second physical examination, if any.  Your Committee believes that an additional physical examination before a child enters the seventh grade may help to identify illnesses and preventable health issues and begin treatments or preventative therapies to encourage long term health and well-being.

     It is the intent of your Committee that this measure not be construed to restrict students from attending school solely because the student has not yet completed a physical examination.  It is the further intent of your Committee that this measure help to promote Department of Health initiatives to support healthy lifestyles, encourage family conversations on preventive health care, and promote the use of new federal health care initiatives to obtain low cost insurance.  Your Committee also intends for this measure to support a coordinated approach to preventive health screenings across all public schools, rather than wellness initiatives that are implemented by schools on an ad hoc basis.

Your Committee requests that the Department of Health attempt to identify and use non-general funds for purposes of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Removing the provision that allows a child to attend school provisionally if the parents or guardians of the child certify that the child has an appointment for a physical examination;

(2)  Requiring the Department of Education to provide the notice of the physical examination requirement to the child's parents or guardians upon the child's entrance into sixth grade;

(3)  Requiring schools, no later than December 31 of each year, to compile a list of students who have not provided documentation of a physical examination and transmit that list to the Department of Health;

(4)  Requiring the Department of Health, no later than the end of the seventh grade school year, to contact the parents or guardians of students who did not submit documentation of a physical examination and provide:

(A)  Information to assist those persons in obtaining the required examination; and

(B)  Follow-up notice or consultations on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and preventative health care and the availability of coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act or medicaid; and

(5)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds to the Department of Health to assist students attending seventh grade who have not provided documentation of a physical examination in obtaining a required physical examination and in receiving the follow-up notices or consultations.

     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. 2387, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2387, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair