STAND. COM. REP. NO. 386-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2185

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2185 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to develop and administer an Implicit Bias Training Program for health care professionals employed at perinatal facilities in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the maternal morbidity rates in the United States are among the highest in the developed world. Your Committee further finds that women of color are disproportionately represented in these rates, possibly caused by implicit biases against these women. Your Committee has heard the concerns from the Department of Health that it lacks the necessary expertise to develop and administer the training program proposed by this measure. Your Committee understands these concerns and finds that establishing a Perinatal Implicit Bias Task Force to examine existing implicit bias training program and make recommendations on how to implement effective implicit bias training in the State is an important first step in understanding the most appropriate methods to address racial disparities in health care.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that required the Department of Human Services to develop and administer an Implicit Bias Training Program;

(2) Establishing a Perinatal Implicit Bias Task Force to examine the existing implicit bias training programs and report to the Legislature with recommendations;

(3) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount for the activities of the task force, including the contracting of a subject matter expert or consultant;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) 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 Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2185, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2185, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair