STAND. COM. REP. NO. 39-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1675

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1675 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL CARE FOR MINORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Permit minors to consent to medical care and services related to the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus;

(2) Specify that a minor, under certain circumstances, shall not be liable for payment associated with the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of human immunodeficiency virus; and

(3) Authorize physician assistants, in addition to physicians and advanced practice registered nurses, to render such medical care and services to minors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Kaiser Permanente; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Kumukahi Health + Wellness; Rainbow Family 808; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center; Hawai‘i Academy of Physician Assistants; Hale Kipa, Inc.; Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing.

Your Committee finds that this measure supports critical treatment of minors diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and could help prevent HIV acquisition in minors. Existing statutes do not appear to permit minors to consent to medical care related to the prevention of HIV, including the use of highly effective medication that was approved for minors in 2018. Permitting minors who cannot or will not seek the consent of their parents or guardians to consent to HIV medical care is essential to the health of minors and valuable in ending the HIV epidemic in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; 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 Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1675, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1675, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair