STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1871

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 169

H.D. 2

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.R. No. 169, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO UNDERTAKE PRELIMINARY EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VACCINATION DRIVE EFFORTS AT SCHOOLS IN HAWAII WITH VACCINATION RATES UNDER THIRTY PERCENT, BEGINNING AT THE START OF THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Health to undertake preliminary education, outreach, and vaccination drive efforts at schools in Hawaii with vaccination rates under thirty percent, beginning at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi – American Nurses Association; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Patriot Republicans; Hawaiʻi Christian Coalition; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that increasing community access to vaccines is an essential part of any public health plan to increase vaccination rates. Your Committee further finds that data from the Department of Health shows a concerning drop in vaccination rates across the State's public, charter, and private schools, with some private schools having non-vaccination rates in excess of sixty percent. Your Committee believes that a vaccination education program that utilizes the State's unique cultural context would be beneficial to the public health of students of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Department of Health to partner with community health centers and local healthcare providers in providing preliminary education, outreach, and vaccination drive efforts at schools in Hawaii;

(2) Inserting language describing the critical role that community health centers play in providing accessible, affordable, and culturally competent healthcare services, including vaccinations, to underserved communities and school-aged children;

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 169, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 169, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair