STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1230-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2476

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2476, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide assistance to children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Health to provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind;

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Health, Department of Education, and Executive Office on Early Learning to establish a working group on issues related to supporting age-appropriate development for children up to five years of age who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds for two permanent full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions in the Department of Health to provide early language services for children up to three years of age who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

The Department of Human Services, Disability and Communication Access Board, Aloha State Association of the Deaf, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Health, Department of Education, and Executive Office on Early Learning supported the intent of the measure.

     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 S.B. No. 2476, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair