STAND. COM. REP. NO. 990

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 908

       H.D. 2

 

 

 

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. 908, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOME VISITING PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Hawaii home visiting program within the Department of Health to provide statewide hospital-based screening and home visiting services for families of newborns at risk for poor health and safety outcomes.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawaii Family Support Institute, Catholic Charities Hawaii, March of Dimes Foundation, Child and Family Service, and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that 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.  Your Committee finds that the establishment of the Hawaii home visiting program will position the Department of Health to participate in the federal grant program, which will bring much-needed federal funding to the State and improve the health and safety of Hawaii's families.  Your Committee also notes the importance of restoring the previously budgeted amount of $3,000,000 to the program, which will ensure the success of the program and the health and security of the State's eligible families.

 

     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. 908, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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