STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1761

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   S.B. No. 502

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 502, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IN VITRO FERTILIZATION INSURANCE COVERAGE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to remove discriminatory language governing requirements for insurance coverage of assisted reproductive technology by requiring parity of coverage for in vitro fertilization for same-sex couples, male-female couples for whom male infertility is a factor, and women regardless of marital status.

 

     The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus, LGBT and Kupuna Caucuses of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Hawaii Women Lawyers, Hawaii LGBT Legal Association, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii Advocates for Consumer Rights, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Advanced Reproductive Medicine & Gynecology, Fertility Institute of Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  Kaiser Permanente Hawaii testified in opposition.  The Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and an individual provided comments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 502, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair