STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3902

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 987

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 987, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEARING AND VISION PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish consistent protocols for hearing and vision screening and follow-up, screener training, and data collection and reporting to increase the early identification of hearing or vision loss in children.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Executive Office on Early Learning, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and Special Education Advisory Council.

Your Committees find that a statutorily mandated hearing and vision program for school children was operated by the Department of Health from 1978 until 1995, when it was ended due to budget reductions with the assumption that primary care providers would provide the hearing and vision screening. Your Committees further find that the Department currently provides consultation and training on hearing and vision screening protocols and available tools. Your Committees additionally find that protocols for hearing and vision screening providers and programs vary regarding their services and follow-up, individual screeners likewise vary in their training and skill levels, and there is no uniform data collection for quality of care to promote improvement. This measure will allow the Department of Health to establish recommended standards for vision and hearing screening based on national guidelines and best practices and establish a statewide screening protocol to ensure that all organizations performing screening are consistently using available tools, screening procedures, and referral criteria based on evidence and best practices.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 987, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair