STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1970

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 678

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 678, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to update definitions and terminology related to the state newborn hearing screening program and improve follow-up care for infants identified as deaf or hard of hearing by mandating that newborn diagnostic audiologic evaluation results be reported to the Department of Health.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Executive Office on Early Learning, and Disability and Communication Access Board.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's incidence of infants born deaf or hard of hearing is about twice of that in other states. Your Committee further finds that this measure will ensure that the Department of Health's Newborn Hearing Screening Program will be able to follow-up with families to facilitate further diagnostic testing or entry into early intervention services, as needed.

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 H.B. No. 678, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair