STAND. COM. REP. NO. 389-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2543
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Health, to which was
referred H.B. No. 2543 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THERAPY SERVICES FOR
     EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to transfer from the Department
of Health (DOH), to the Department of Education the
responsibility of providing occupational and physical therapy for
public school children who need such services.

     The DOH, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association supported
this bill.  The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported
the intent of this bill.  The DOE and one individual opposed this
bill.

     Your Committees find that the responsibility for
occupational and physical therapy for public school students
should reside with the DOE.  The transfer of responsibility is
consistent with the DOE's charge to provide free, apppropriate
public education including related services for qualified
students.  

     Your Committees realize, however, that the transfer of
responsibility mandated by this bill cannot be implemented
immediately.  Accordingly, your Committees have amended this bill
by leaving the effective date open to give the DOH and DOE more
time to agree to a mutually acceptable timetable for the
implementation of this transfer.

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 389-00
                                 Page 2

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Education and Health that are attached to this
report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 2543, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2543, H.D.
1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Education and
                                   Health,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair       KEN ITO, Chair