STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1045

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 663

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 663, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen requirements for the screening of all newborn infants for hearing impairment and allow for the development of rules to standardize newborn hearing screening statewide.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Health, Center for Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that hearing loss is one of the most common congenital birth defects. Timely recognition and treatment can immensely improve language and communication skills. This measure will allow for enforceable standards for screening, diagnosis, identification, intervention, and monitoring of infants with hearing impairment. As a result, infants will receive the necessary treatment in a timely manner.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical nonsubstantive change to reflect proper bill drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 663, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 663, H.D. 1, 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 and Human Services,

____________________________

DAVID MATSUURA, Chair