STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 910
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: H.B. No. 576
H.D. 3
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 576, H.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Board of Nursing, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Women's Caucus and LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, AAUW of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Pono Hawai‘i Initiative, Young Progressives Demanding Action, Hudson Law, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Maternal and Infant Health Collaborative, Hawai‘i Association of Professional Nurses, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from A Place for Women in Waipio, Hawaii Life Alliance, Hawaii Family Forum, AFC, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i State Center Nursing and Common Cause Hawaii.
Your Committee finds that residents in rural and medically underserved areas of the State, including on Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and the west side of the island of Hawaii, may not have access to health care providers who can provide abortion care. Your Committee further finds that aspiration abortions are one of the most common methods of abortion for early first trimester abortions. However, under existing law, only licensed physicians and surgeons may perform aspiration abortions. Numerous studies found no difference in abortion safety when performed by a qualified licensed health care provider other than a physician. This measure ensures that people in Hawaii can access abortion care with fewer financial and logistical barriers and stay in their respective communities to get care from trusted providers.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the effective date to upon approval; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 576, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 576, H.D. 3.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,
|
|
|
____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair |
|
|
|
|