STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1161

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 986

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 986, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Ensure that timely diagnostic audiologic evaluation results on newborns who did not pass newborn hearing screening, or infants whose hearing status changes, are provided to the Department of Health; and

(2) Update definitions and terminology.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Disability and Communication Access Board, Executive Office on Early Learning, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawai‘i Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that requiring the reporting of diagnostic audiologic evaluation results for newborns who do not pass hearing screening will help the State meet national goals to assist children who are deaf or hard of hearing to be language-ready for school. National data show that the incidents of infants who are born deaf or hard of hearing in Hawaii is at least twice the incidents in other states. This measure will improve the identification of and follow—up with infants who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 986, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 986, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair