STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1178

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 576

H.D. 3

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 576, H.D. 3, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to perform medication or aspiration abortions.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Nursing, ACLU Hawai‘i, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawai‘i, AAUW of Hawaii, Aoki Birthing Care, AF3IRM Hawai‘i, Common Cause Hawaii, Hawaii Maternal & Infant Health Collaborative, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Hawai‘i Women Lawyers, Ma‘i Movement Hawai‘i, Pono Hawai‘i Initiative, Rainbow Family 808, Young Progressives Demanding Action, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Hawai‘i - American Nurses Association, and one hundred eleven individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from A Place for Women in Waipio, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Life Alliance, and nine individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing.

Your Committees find that existing law allows only physicians to perform abortions. Many women, particularly those on the neighbor islands and in rural parts of the State, do not have access to physicians who are authorized to perform abortions. Thus, these women are forced to fly to another island in addition to taking time off work, arranging childcare, and booking lodging to see a physician and receive safe and adequate care. Your Committees find that APRNs can safely provide abortion care and can do so outside of hospitals. This measure allows APRNs to perform medication or aspiration abortions.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 576, H.D. 3, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair