STAND. COM. REP. NO. 304

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1046

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1046 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the administration of medications by school health assistants at school with the approval of a health care professional within the Department of Education, Department of Health, or a health care service per a written agreement with the Department of Education; and

(2) Update the term "school health aides" to "school health assistants" to reflect updated job titles at the Department of Education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Health, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Nancy Atmospera-Walch School of Nursing, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, and Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that all medication requests in a public school setting are currently reviewed and must be approved by the Department of Health. Your Committee notes that many schools currently have a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or other specialized health care provider on campus through written agreements with the Department of Education. Your Committee believes that enabling school-based licensed healthcare staff, through a written agreement with the Department of Education, to approve the administration of medication by school health assistants will allow for more efficient, accessible, and safe student care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000; 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. 1046, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1046, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair