STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2043

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2022

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2022 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Executive Office of Early Learning, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!

Your Committee finds that the early identification of hearing and vision loss, with appropriate follow-up services, is essential for the development of children's language and communication skills needed for learning in school. Currently, screening providers and community programs vary in their protocols and training for screenings and follow-up. This measure will require the Department of Health to set recommended standards based on national guidelines and best practices for screening, training, and data collection and reporting, which will ensure that hearing and vision screenings are based on evidence and best practices.

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 S.B. No. 2022 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair