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.

SR178

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

178

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

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.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

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