STAND. COM. REP. NO. 886

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 841

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 841, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the delivery of school health services by establishing an interagency working group to create a comprehensive school health program.   

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Special Education Advisory Council, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and three individuals.  Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education. 

     Your Committee finds that Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, sought to reform public education in Hawaii, in part, by establishing an interagency working group to develop plans for transferring rights, powers, and resources from other state departments to the Department of Education.  This interagency working group ceased to exist on June 30, 2007, but some issues were not fully resolved and others have arisen since then.  Your Committee believes the establishment of a new interagency working group regarding school health services will help to address these issues.

     Your Committee further finds that there are additional considerations and issues to include in the comprehensive school health program.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by requiring the interagency working group to examine:

     (1)  School community-based health programs, possible federal reimbursements, and public-private partnerships in regards to the development of a school health program infrastructure;

     (2)  The transfer from the Department of Health to the Department of Education of public health nurses, including supervisory and career pathway issues, rather than the transfer of health aides;

     (3)  The possible expansion of the type of health care workers in schools, complexes, or complex areas, including advanced practice registered nurses, mental health counselors, and advanced health aides with additional certifications; and

     (4)  Any projected cost estimates and resource requirements, as well as phase-in options for the implementation of the comprehensive school health program.

     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. 841, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 841, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair