STAND. COM. REP. NO. 381

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1173

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1173 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PERINATAL CARE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to continue the pilot perinatal clinic for women with a history of substance abuse on Oahu.

 

     The Department of Human Services submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the pilot perinatal clinic provides appropriate health care services to pregnant women who are substance abusers in an effort to help them deliver healthy babies.  The pilot perinatal clinic provides substance abuse treatment, prenatal care, and follow‑up services in a supportive, rather than punitive, environment.  Given the high percentage of drug use among women involved with child welfare services and the criminal justice system, it is important to continue to support the pilot perinatal clinic.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1173 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Public Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair