STAND. COM. REP. NO.686-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2806

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2806, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception drug therapy without a prescription only to individuals who are 18 or older.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, ACLU of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Women Lawyers, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and several individuals supported this bill. The Hawaii Women's Political Caucus and an individual supported this bill, but recommended eliminating the 18-year age restriction.

The Board of Pharmacy opposed this bill because pharmacists do not have prescriptive authority and would only dispense emergency contraceptives with a valid prescription.

Your Committee finds that emergency contraception is a birth control method which is most effective when taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, and which does not affect an established pregnancy. The method causes nausea, which discourages its use except in emergencies. Your Committee heard testimony that

emergency contraception has been used in Europe for over 25 years without ill effects, and is currently being reviewed by the Federal Drug Administration for over-the-counter use.

Your Committee finds that this bill will assist low income women who have limited access to transportation and affordable health care, by providing them with increased access to timely and appropriate health care.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050 to facilitate further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2806, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2806, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,

 

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair