STAND. COM. REP. NO. 654

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1240

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1240, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS IN EMERGENCY ROOMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Ensure that hospitals that treat victims of sexual abuse provide information on emergency contraception (EC);

(2) Exempt religiously affiliated hospitals from the requirement of providing EC or information on EC;

(3) Require training on sexual assault and emergency contraceptives to those who treat survivors; and

(4) Allow the filing of complaints and the imposition of fines for the failure to provide medically and factually accurate emergency contraception information to providers.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – District VII, Hawaii Section, Community Alliance on Prisons, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Sestak Rehabilitation Services, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of the bill. The American Center for Law & Justice in Hawaii, and Pro-Family Hawaii opposed the bill. The Hawaii Catholic Conference, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, and a concerned individual provided comments on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1240, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair