STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1584

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1750

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1750, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to prevent deaths and disabilities that arise from shaken baby syndrome.

 

     Specifically, this measure allows hospitals and health care facilities that provide medical care to newborn infants to provide parents with written educational materials on the dangerous effects of shaken baby syndrome and ways to prevent actions causing shaken baby syndrome.

 

     Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The American Academy of Pediatrics – Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Health opposed this bill.  A concerned individual submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee recognizes that shaken baby syndrome is a dangerous problem that frequently results in death or disability of newborns.  Shaken baby syndrome is preventable through education of parents on the dangers and repercussions of shaking an infant and providing all parents with methods of prevention.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

(1)  Requiring hospitals that provide medical care for newborn infants to provide parents with educational materials on shaken baby syndrome; and

 

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1750, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1750, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair