STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1083

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 237

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 237, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health to establish and oversee peer-to-peer support programs for children from birth to age five and their families, including the establishment of program specialist positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Family Hui Hawaii, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Commit to Keiki, AlohaCare, Guardian Capital Management Hawaii LLC, and twenty-one individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning.

Your Committee finds that parents and caregivers who lack needed support may experience depression and mental health challenges, intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect, and substance addiction, which in turn may cause early childhood trauma for the children under their care. Your Committee further finds that offering expectant and new parents family strengthening programs using a peer-to-peer support framework is proven to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect and improve positive parenting outcomes. Peer-to-peer support programs offer parents and caregivers a place where they can learn, get health care screenings and referrals, share resources, and build their self‑confidence. This measure strengthens families and promotes the well-being of the State's keiki by funding community-based peer‑to‑peer support programs and the expansion of peer‑to‑peer resources focusing on addiction and recovery and child welfare.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 237, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 237, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair