SR 178: requesting the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Education to develop a coordinated plan to reduce the impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Education to develop a coordinated plan to reduce the impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

     WHEREAS, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a group of conditions that occur as a direct result of prenatal alcohol exposure and often result in lifelong physical, behavioral, and functional challenges; and

     WHEREAS, national data indicates that there is alcohol exposure in one in seven pregnancies and approximately one in twenty people suffer from FASD; and

     WHEREAS, approximately eight hundred forty babies born in Hawaii each year have FASD; and

     WHEREAS, FASD negatively impacts families and communities across Hawaii and contributes to increased health care needs, educational challenges, and social service utilization at a cost of approximately $876,000,000 annually, which includes costs for health care, special education, residential care, lost productivity, and corrections; and

     WHEREAS, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025, P.L. 119-44, (FASD Support Act) will make $12,000,000 available to address FASD needs; and

     WHEREAS, early identification, prevention, and coordinated intervention are critical for improving outcomes for individuals affected by FASD and their families; and

     WHEREAS, enhanced coordination by the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Education to address the impacts of FASD will improve the State's response to FASD and ensure better outcomes to Hawaii residents who are affected by FASD and their families; and

     WHEREAS, establishing a Statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Coordinator will help the State access federal funds, support data collection and reporting, increase monitoring efforts, and allow the State to better access outcomes and the effectiveness of programs to reduce the impact of FASD; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Education are requested to develop a coordinated plan to address the impact of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan is requested to include:

     (1)  The feasibility of establishing a Statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Coordinator to act as a central coordinator for the State's efforts to reduce the impact of FASD;

     (2)  Strategies for drawing down federal funding available under the FASD Support Act;

     (3)  The feasibility of leveraging resources by connecting local and national efforts to reduce the impact of FASD;

     (4)  Strategies for increasing awareness of FASD, including support for statewide education and public awareness campaigns to increase community-based knowledge, reduce prevalence of alcohol exposure during pregnancy, and provision of high-quality interventions;

     (5)  Strategies to build capacity for the treatment of FASD and reduce the utilization of foster care and the criminal justice system, including developing and coordinating training of health care professionals, educators, and multidisciplinary service providers in the screening, identification, diagnosis, and management of FASD; and

     (6)  Strategies to improve the quality of life of individuals affected by FASD and their families, including lowering economic barriers to early intervention, appropriate accommodations, and support; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and Department of Education are requested to submit the coordinated plan and a report of their findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than December 15, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation, Governor, Director of Health, Director of Human Services, and Superintendent of Education.

Report Title: 

DOH; DHS; DOE; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; Coordinated Plan