THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1139

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOME VISITING PROGRAM.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, also known as the Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).  The Affordable Care Act added section 511 to title V of the Social Security Act to create the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant program to support development and implementation of evidence-based home visiting program models by states and other eligible entities.

     Home visiting is a prevention strategy used by states and communities to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families at risk for adverse health and safety concerns, including child abuse and neglect.  Early investments in home visiting programs have been shown to reduce costs associated with foster care placements, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, unintended pregnancies, and other more costly outcomes and interventions.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a program within the department of health for hospital-based screening and home visiting services for newborns' families.  Establishment of Hawaii's home visiting program will position the department of health to participate in the federal grant program, and thereby improve the health and safety of eligible families.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XXV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: 

     "§321‑    Hawaii home visiting program; established.  (a)  There is established within the department of health the Hawaii home visiting program, which shall be responsible for statewide hospital-based screening and home visiting services to identify families of newborns at risk for poor health and safety outcomes, including child abuse and neglect, to promote healthy child development and strengthen families.

     (b)  Within the limits of available funds, the hospital-based screening and home visiting services program shall:

     (1)  Provide proactive, universal screening of newborns' families, using one or more screening tools validated for identifying levels of risk for poor health and safety outcomes, and child abuse and neglect, as designated by the department of health;

     (2)  Refer high-risk families to Hawaii home visiting program providers who shall employ evidence-based models of service; and

(3)  Consider as a high priority, families at risk for poor health outcomes, child abuse, or neglect."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 to carry out the purposes of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.


 


 

Report Title:

Hawaii Home Visiting Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the Hawaii Home Visiting Program, a statewide hospital-based early identification and home visiting system.  Appropriates funds.  Effective July 1, 2030.  (SB1139 HD1)

 

 

 

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