STAND. COM. REP. NO. 993

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 909

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 909, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INFANT MORTALITY PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a statewide, comprehensive infant mortality reduction program within the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Executive Office on Early Learning, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Heart Association, Kapiolani Medical Center, and March of Dimes Foundation.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that infant mortality in the State is an issue of serious concern.  Your Committee also finds that pre-term deliveries may negatively impact infant mortality rates, but that more information is necessary before determining the best approach for addressing this issue.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding a new part establishing a task force that is to be convened by the Department of Health to collect data about the number of elective pre-term deliveries in Hawaii and whether Hawaii needs a point of care newborn screening program;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2050; provided that parts I through IV shall take effect on January 1, 2015; and

 

     (3)  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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 909, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 909, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair