STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2904

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2647

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2647, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve governmental support, including educational support, of individuals having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

 

     More specifically, the measure:

 

     (1)  Establishes within the Department of Health a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force to develop and report to the Legislature on guidelines, recommendations, and teaching protocols relating to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; and

 

     (2)  Appropriates moneys to the Department of Health to establish and support the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Action Group, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and nine individuals.

 

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Budget and Finance.

 

Your Committee finds that the guidelines, recommendations, and teaching protocols to be developed by the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force will help government agencies and educators better understand the unique challenges faced by individuals impacted by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and will enable more effective outreach to, treatment of, and resource identification for these individuals.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that the appropriation of moneys to the Department of Health to support the establishment and work of the Task Force may also be used to obtain any assistance necessary to enable the Task Force to carry out its duties, and that the Department may contract with a third party to provide this assistance; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2647, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2647, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair