STAND. COM. REP. NO. 607-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.B. No. 2049

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2049 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESTROOM FACILITIES FOR WOMEN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the State to provide adequate restroom facilities for women in state owned or operated facilities that host large gatherings of the public.

Specifically, the measure requires the State to provide at least twice as many water closets for use by females as the number available to men in certain public facilities. It also authorizes the issuance of an unspecified amount of general obligation bonds to renovate facilities to comply with the measure.

The Executive Director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and an individual testified in support of the measure. The Department of Transportation supported the measure's intent.

Your Committee acknowledges that, judging by lines of waiting women often visible outside of women's public restrooms, women's restrooms in certain state owned or operated facilities that host events that draw large crowds, such as stadiums, concert halls, and similar facilities, appear to be more crowded and involve a longer wait than men's restrooms in the same facility. This measure will achieve restroom equality for women and men, a principle supported by your Committee.

Your Committee also believes that the construction of an additional number of family restrooms is needed in public owned or operated facilities and urges your Committee on Finance to consider such an amendment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the authorization to issue general obligation bonds;

(2) Clarifying that the bill applies only to new facilities, the construction of which begins after the measure's effective date; and

(3) Changing the effective date from July 1, 2006 to "upon approval"; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, style, and uniformity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2049, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2049, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair