STAND. COM. REP. NO. 446

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1522

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1522 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii keiki: healthy and ready to learn program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii keiki: healthy and ready to learn program has expanded access to health services for many of the State's students. School-based services such as early eye screenings and oral hygiene services for vulnerable keiki in pre-kindergarten through high school can improve academic outcomes and increase children's opportunities for economic achievement. This measure improves access to and increases the quality of health services available to Hawaii's public school students.

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. 1522 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair