Report Title:

Early Childhood Screenings

 

Description:

Provides parents or guardians of a child access, before the child's third birthday, to screening of their child's psychological and physiological development. Requires DOH in conjunction with DOE, DHS, and UH, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, to develop a screening protocol and referral plan.

 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

288

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to early childhood assessments.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that recent research has demonstrated that the early years of a child are most crucial in a child's cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. Neuroscience research in early brain development as well as studies in early child development affirm not only the tremendous opportunities for prevention work with children and families, but also the predictable, costly consequences of not doing so. For every $1 invested in early childhood education and care and early intervention services for children from birth to five years of age, it is estimated that $7 in later remediation and special education services may be saved.

The legislature further finds that early screening, identification, and intervention for developmental delays and psychosocial problems improve children's outcomes, and have a critical influence on school success and family functioning. The departments of health, education, and human services currently provide community health services and education for screening and assessment. However, current resources are inadequate to make these services available to all parents, and some parents are unaware of or do not take advantage of these services. As a result, their children may miss proper screening, evaluation, and if needed, referrals and treatment.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a means of providing early childhood screening before a child reaches the age of three.

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

"§321- Early childhood screenings. (a) Between the second and third anniversary of a child's birth, the parents or guardians of a child shall be given access to screening to evaluate the psychological, cognitive, language, motor, behavioral, or social-emotional development of their child. Screening and certification of screening may be provided by:

(1) The child's pediatrician;

(2) Any primary health care provider;

(3) The department of health; or

(4) The department of education.

(b) As part of the screening and certification process authorized by subsection (a), the department of health, department of education, child's physician, or a primary healthcare provider may:

(1) Provide information and referrals of programs and services to help remediate any developmental problems revealed by the screening;

(2) Inform all parents and guardians of their responsibilities with respect to ensuring that their child's psychological and physiological development is progressing satisfactorily;

(3) Provide assistance and advice to parents and guardians in meeting those responsibilities;

(4) Provide additional screenings, assessments, or referrals as deemed necessary; and

(5) Use a standardized screening protocol and referral plan as jointly developed by the departments of health, education, and human services, the University of Hawaii, and the American Academy of Pediatrics."

SECTION 3. (a) The department of health, in conjunction with the departments of education and human services, the University of Hawaii, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, shall plan and develop:

(1) A standardized screening protocol to evaluate the psychological and physiological development of a child between two- and three-years-of-age that includes but is not limited to:

(A) Cognitive development;

(B) Language development;

(C) Motor development; and

(D) Behavioral or social-emotional development;

(2) A referral plan providing parents or guardians of a child access to screening prior to the child's third birthday by a pediatrician or primary care physician or other health care or child development professional approved by the department of health;

(3) A means to certify that a child has been screened by the child's third birthday; and

(4) A plan that includes benchmarking and time limits to achieve universal screening, including identification of populations most "at risk" to be targeted initially.

(b) The standardized screening protocol and referral plan shall be developed by June 30, 2002.

SECTION 4. 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 2001-2002 to develop the standardized screening protocol and referral plan provided for in this Act.

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

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that:

(1) Section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2002; and

(2) Section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

INTRODUCED BY:

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