Bill Text: HI HB987 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Hearing And Vision Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2022-06-16 - Act 037, on 06/15/2022 (Gov. Msg. No. 1137). [HB987 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB987-Amended.html
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
987 |
|
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HEARING AND VISION PROGRAM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION
1. The
legislature finds that early identification of hearing and vision loss, with
appropriate follow-up services, is critical for the development of children's language and communication skills needed for
learning in school.
A hearing and vision program for school children is
mandated by section 321-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which operated
from 1978 in the department of health and ended in 1995 due to budget reductions with the assumption that primary care providers
would provide the hearing and vision screening. The department
currently provides consultation and training on hearing and vision screening protocols
and tools.
Improvement in hearing and vision screening
for children is needed. Currently,
hearing and vision screenings are conducted by primary care providers and
community programs. However, providers
and programs vary regarding protocols for hearing and vision screening and follow-up;
screeners vary in their training and skills for conducting screenings; and
there is no uniform data collection for quality improvement.
Hawaii data indicates the need to improve
vision screening, especially for younger ages. The National Survey of Children's Health shows
that the Hawaii vision screening rate of 33.2 per cent for children ages zero
to five years ranks at forty-four out of fifty states. The Hawaii vision screening rate of 76.8 per
cent for children ages six to eleven years and 76.4 per cent for youth ages
twelve to seventeen years were both close to the national average.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii
newborn hearing screening program data show a hearing loss rate of 4.5 per thousand
infants. However, there is a need to
continue hearing screening beyond the newborn period, as national data show
that the hearing loss rate increases to about six per one thousand children by
age six, due to congenital hearing loss that was not identified at birth or
late onset or progressive hearing loss.
The
purpose of this Act is to increase the early identification of children with
hearing or vision loss, by establishing consistent protocols for hearing and vision
screening and follow-up, screener training,
and data collection and reporting.
SECTION
2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by amending part IX to read as follows:
"PART IX. [SYSTEMATIC]
HEARING AND VISION PROGRAM
§321-101 [Systematic
hearing] Hearing and vision program. (a)
There is established a [systematic] hearing and vision program
for children to be conducted by the department of health. The purpose of the program shall be to[:
(1) Detect and
identify hearing and vision deficiencies in school children; and
(2) Recommend to
their parents or guardians the need for appropriate evaluation of children who
have hearing or vision deficiencies, or both, and follow-up and track completed
evaluations, including diagnostic and treatment information.]
increase the early identification of hearing or vision loss in
children by establishing consistent
protocols for hearing and vision screening and follow-up, screener training,
and data collection for quality improvement.
(b)
The department shall set recommended
standards for:
(1) Protocol for evidence-based hearing and
vision screening, including ages or grades for screening;
(2) Screening tools, instruments, and passing
and referral criteria for screening that are based on national guidelines and
best practices;
(3) Referrals, tracking of referrals, and
follow-up of children who do not pass screening;
(4) Training, certification, and qualifications
of personnel who conduct hearing and vision screening, other than those who are
licensed health care professionals acting within their legal scope of practice;
and
(5) Data collection and reporting on hearing
and vision screening, referral, and follow-up.
[(b)]
(c) Within available resources,
the program shall include[:
(1) Consultation with students, parents, and
health and education personnel about treatment and rehabilitation of hearing
and vision deficiencies; and
(2) Education of students, health and education
personnel, and the general public about preserving and caring for hearing and vision
and about preventing hearing and vision deficiencies.
(c)
The departments of health and education,
in cooperation with each other, may conduct classes and lectures in hearing and
vision conservation and prevention of hearing loss and blindness for teachers,
public health nurses, and others engaged in similar work. The departments shall also cooperate with
public and private organizations and societies to educate the public in the
importance of hearing and vision conservation.] consultation with, and
education of students, parents, and health and education personnel about
hearing and vision screening, treatment, and services."
SECTION
3. Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken. New statutory
material is underscored.
SECTION
4. This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2060.
Report Title:
Hearing and Vision Program; Hearing Screening; Vision Screening; DOH
Description:
Amends the hearing and vision program statute to increase the early identification of children with hearing or vision loss, by establishing consistent protocols for hearing and vision screening and follow-up, screener training, and data collection for quality improvement. Effective 7/1/2060. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
