STAND. COM. REP. NO. 72

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 981

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 981 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support early intervention efforts proven to enhance health and safety outcomes and prevent child maltreatment by maintaining funding for the Hawaii home visiting initiative and ensuring continuation of home visiting services in priority high-risk neighborhoods and areas.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Child and Family Service, Hawaii Association for Infant Mental Health, Hawaii Family Support Institute, INPEACE, March of Dimes Foundation Hawaii Chapter, Parents and Children Together, Keiki O Ka Aina Family Learning Centers, and Family Support Hawaii.

     Your Committees find that early intervention services for disadvantaged families with infants and toddlers are critical to preventing child abuse and neglect and improving developmental and educational outcomes.  Your Committees further find that home visitation is an evidence-based model demonstrated to improve parent-child attachment, access to preventive medical care, parental functioning, and early identification of developmental delays.  Home visitation services provided to families of children under three years of age have proven to reduce child maltreatment, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and unintended pregnancies, as well as improve child development and reduce the need for more costly interventions.

     Your Committees find that the Hawaii home visiting program provides valuable services to families of newborns who are at risk for adverse health, safety, and developmental outcomes.  In 2014, the program served six hundred twenty-one families in Hawaii, with over eighty percent of the children receiving developmental and emotional screens, over ninety percent becoming up to date on immunizations, and one hundred percent of the families demonstrating no abuse.  Your Committees recognize that the Hawaii home visiting program is supported by federal funds under the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act of 2010 but requires state money to meet the $3,000,000 state maintenance of effort requirement, to draw down federal funds, and most importantly to continue providing home visitation services in priority high-risk neighborhoods and areas around the State.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 981 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health,

____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair