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HCR 145

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS TO COLLABORATE AND DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO PREPARE FOR HAWAII'S PURSUIT OF FUNDING FOR AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION'S PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE FOR ESTIMATING AUTISM PREVALENCE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato and 6 co-sponsors

HCR 145 urges Hawaii agencies to develop a plan to pursue CDC autism prevalence funding and join public health surveillance, aiming to boost data, services, and funding access.

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 537).
#autismspectrumdisorder #centersfordiseasecontrolandprevention #publichealthsurveillance
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Bill Summary · HCR 145

Summary of HCR 145 (2025)

HCR 145 is a concurrent resolution urging Hawaii’s key state agencies and stakeholders to collaborate and develop a strategic plan to pursue funding for and participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) public health surveillance to estimate autism prevalence in Hawaii.

Purpose and intent

  • Expresses the Legislature’s support for coordinating with the Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), and other relevant stakeholders to prepare for potential participation in CDC’s autism prevalence estimation efforts.
  • Seeks to position Hawaii to access national funding opportunities (notably through the Autism CARES Act) and to establish local surveillance capacity that could improve services for individuals with autism and their families.

Background and context

  • Autism prevalence in the U.S. has risen substantially; CDC estimates about 1 in 36 children are affected.
  • Autism imposes substantial costs (medical, therapeutic, educational, and caregiver productivity losses).
  • Hawaii-specific concerns include higher observed prevalence in some Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander communities and major workforce shortages in early intervention, special education, pediatrics, and related fields.
  • The CDC’s ADDM Network currently tracks autism prevalence at 16 sites in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico; Hawaii is not included. The Act that created Autism CARES (2024) provides significant funding for surveillance and related activities, signaling growing opportunities for state participation.

Key provisions and requested actions

  • Urge collaboration among DOE, DOH, and other relevant stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for pursuing CDC autism prevalence funding and for Hawaii’s participation in public health surveillance.
  • Tasks for DOE/DOH and stakeholders:
    • Identify necessary resources, training, and infrastructure to support data collection and analysis for autism prevalence estimation.
    • Engage community organizations, health care providers, and researchers to improve autism-related services based on data.
  • Administrative actions:
    • Establish public health surveillance agreements and work toward memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to facilitate autism data collection.
    • Provide a joint report to the Legislature detailing steps taken and progress toward participation, due no later than 20 days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2026.
  • Communications:
    • Certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, Superintendent of Education, and Director of Health; the Director to share with autism advocacy organizations in Hawaii.

Status and timeline

  • Introduced: May 7, 2025.
  • Passed House actions: Referred, reported, and adopted in April–May 2025; transmitted to the Senate in May 2025.
  • Concurrent resolution (requires Senate concurrence) and not a direct appropriation or new law.
  • Reporting deadline: No later than 20 days before the 2026 Regular Session convening.

Potential impact and stakeholders

  • Primary entities: Department of Education, Department of Health, other relevant state agencies, health care providers, educators, research institutions, and autism advocacy groups.
  • Potential outcomes include improved data availability, targeted investments in workforce training and infrastructure, and enhanced access to services for Hawaii’s diverse communities.
  • Related bill: HR 139 (companion).

Sponsorship

  • Primary sponsors include Amato, Kapela, Kila, Reyes Oda, Shimizu, Marten, Perruso.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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