STAND. COM. REP. NO. 168-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2498

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2498 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Health to submit a request, as allowed under part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended, to the United States Department of Education to allow parents of children with a disability to continue receiving early intervention services after the child turns three years of age and until the child enters kindergarten.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!.

Your Committee finds that young children with disabilities lose access to early intervention services when they turn three years of age and must transition to special education services provided by the State. However, some children may benefit more by continuing their early intervention services after turning three years of age, allowing them to work toward obtaining the goals and skills necessary to succeed in a school-based setting. This measure will begin the process to allow parents of children with a disability to continue receiving early intervention services after turning three years of age and close any current gaps in services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 2498, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair