STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1540

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 56

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 S.R. No. 56 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE TO DEVELOP A REPORT TO ADDRESS THE DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN BORN DURING THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 PANDEMIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of Wellness and Resilience to prepare a report to address the developmental needs of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, Association for Infant Mental Health in Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on children born between the years 2018-2025, disrupting their social, emotional, academic, and health development during their most critical early years. Your Committee further finds that recovery and catch-up interventions for these children are essential to mitigate long-term impacts on their educational and life trajectories. This measure's report provides essential data for the Office of Wellness and Resilience to assess Hawaii-specific research and develop recommendations uniquely tailored to the State's cultural context, community structures, and existing service systems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Extending the date by which the Office of Wellness and Resilience is requested to submit its report to the Legislature from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 56, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 56, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair