STAND. COM. REP. NO. 46

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 903

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 903 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Education to stock bronchodilators for emergency use during respiratory distress;

(2) Authorize certain employees of a school and Department of Education personnel to volunteer to administer certain medication in emergency situations, under certain conditions; and

(3) Amend prescription drug labeling requirements to include certain information related to a school, if applicable.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Association of Professional Nurses; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Hawaiʻi–American Nurses Association; American Lung Association; AlohaCare; and eight individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and one individual.

Your Committee finds that asthma is a significant concern for children in the State, made worse by unique factors like vog and allergens. Without immediate treatment, asthma attacks can escalate, endangering lives and leading to costly emergency care. Your Committee believes that stocking schools with bronchodilators and training staff to recognize and respond to asthma symptoms and other illnesses will ensure timely care for Hawaii's youth.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the administration of stock bronchodilator by authorized employees or agents to a student shall not require or imply any diagnosis, or be interpreted as the practice of medicine, nursing, or other licensed professional activity;

(2) Clarifying the scope of personnel who are authorized to administer certain medication in emergency situations, under certain conditions;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(4) 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. 903, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 903, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair