STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1097-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2682

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 2682, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEAD POISONING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning January 1, 2025, require physicians to perform or order a lead screening test for minor patients at certain intervals, and make a record of the lead screening test in the minor patient's records;

(2) Require the Department of Health to adopt recommendations; and

(3) Provide certain exemptions for the mandatory lead poisoning testing of minors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that even a small amount of lead in a child's blood can lead to a variety of complications, including inhibiting their ability to learn, pay attention, and succeed in school. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii data from 2018 to 2023 shows that on average, two percent of all tested children under the age of six years had a level of lead in their blood that exceeded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Reference Level. However, because less than thirty percent of children under the age of three were tested in 2023, the true prevalence of lead poisoning in the State is likely much higher. This measure is intended to improve public health by implementing universal screening tests for lead poisoning of children residing in State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2682, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2682, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair