STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1875

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 139

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.R. No. 139 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO COLLABORATE AND DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO PREPARE FOR HAWAII'S PURSUIT OF FUNDING FOR AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION'S PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE FOR ESTIMATING AUTISM PREVALENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Education, Department of Health, and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate and develop a strategic plan to prepare for Hawaii's pursuit of funding for and participation in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's public health surveillance for estimating autism prevalence.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; BAYDA; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Pakolea Support Services; Mau Loa Learning LLC; Full Life; Balanced ABA; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that autism affects one in thirty-six children in the United States, which is a significant increase from the 2000 autism prevalence estimate of one in one hundred forty-nine children. Your Committee further finds that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network is the primary source of autism prevalence data in the United States. However, despite research indicating that Asians, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders have a higher prevalence of autism, Hawaii has not been included in the national surveillance effort. This measure seeks to address this oversight by urging the Department of Education, Department of Health, and other relevant stakeholders to prepare a strategic plan to enable the State to participate in public health surveillance for estimating autism prevalence.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 139 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair