STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1077-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2670

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2670, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, PLUS COMMISSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Commission to provide for a statewide program on the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus individuals in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Rainbow Family 808, Pride at Work-Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Healing Ministry, Common Cause Hawaii, AF3IRM Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action, North Shore Ko‘olau Diversity Collective, ACLU of Hawai‘i, and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that many individuals in the State's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) community are vulnerable, overlooked, or face discrimination. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii LGBTQ+ youth in particular are disproportionately affected by suicidal ideations, depression, anxiety, and other deleterious outcomes due to discrimination, harassment, and violence as a result of homophobia and transphobia. Your Committee further finds that the creation of a commission, as provided by this measure, will advance equity and is an important step to meet the needs of Hawaii's LGBTQ+ community.

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 S.B. No. 2670, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2670, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair