STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1066

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 678

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 678, 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 amend the Newborn Hearing Screening statute to:

(1) Mandate reporting of diagnostic audiologic evaluation results to improve identification and follow-up of infants identified as deaf or hard of hearing; and

(2) Update definitions and terminology.

Department of Health and the Disability and Communication Access Board testified in support of this measure. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery testified in opposition to this measure.

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. 678, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair