STAND. COM. REP. NO. 907

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 501

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 501, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the statutory duties imposed on limited service pregnancy centers.

 

Specifically, the measure requires limited service pregnancy centers to:

 

(1)  Provide clients or patients with notice of the availability of, and enrollment information for, reproductive health services;

 

(2)  Follow privacy and disclosure requirements regarding individual records and information; and

 

(3)  Be subject to civil penalties and civil actions for violations.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Hawaii Section; Hawaii Women Lawyers; Hawaii Women's Coalition; Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii; LBGT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii; and twenty-two individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor; Concerned Women for America of Hawaii; Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Schools; Hawaii Catholic Conference; Hawaii Family Forum; Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui; A Place for Women in Waipio; The Pregnancy Center; and fifty-three individuals.

 

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and four individuals.

 

     Your Committee believes that when it comes to health care, everyone should have access to comprehensive, accurate, and unbiased information in a confidential setting.  Especially for women and their reproductive health, timely information is critical in making informed decisions.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 501, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair