STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1372

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 415

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 415, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure, as received by your Committees, is to:

(1) Authorize advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions by medication or aspiration in the first trimester of pregnancy, subject to certain conditions; and

(2) Preserve an individual's ability for refusal to participate in an abortion or have no liability for such refusal, provided the individual provides prior written notice and the refusal does not cause a serious risk to another person's health or life.

The Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Hawai‘i Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Community Alliance on Prisons, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and several individuals testified in support of this measure. The Hawaii Federation of Republican Women, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Life Alliance, Honolulu County Republican Party, and many individuals testified in opposition to this measure. The Board of Nursing, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing, and an individual provided comments on this measure.

Upon careful consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by replacing its contents with provisions that establish a task force to:

(1) Review other states that have authorized advanced practice registered nurses or similar health care providers to perform abortions by medication or aspiration, including patient safeguards to such legislation;

(2) Review patient access to abortion care and services in the State;

(3) Review the costs of unintended teenage pregnancy in the United States;

(4) Study the Safe Haven Law, which was established by Act 7, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2007; and

(5) Submit a report to the Legislature of the actions taken pursuant to this measure no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the 2020 Regular Session, including findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation.

Your Committees have further amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate continued discussion on this measure.

Your Committees note the testimony provided by Hawaii Family Forum with regard to supporting increased funding for abstinence education.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 415, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 415, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce,

____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO, Chair

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair