HB553

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that reproductive care is an essential form of health care. In March 1970, Hawaii became the first state to legalize abortion, three years before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision by the United States Supreme Court that protected access to abortion nationwide. By legalizing abortion access, the State recognized that preserving access to safe and legal reproductive care is a vital public health objective for the islands.

The legislature also finds that Hawaii's unique geography and high cost of living present barriers to obtaining reproductive care for patients and potential patients. As of 2022, only a few abortion providers host reproductive care clinics on two to three islands in the State. According to Planned Parenthood, the number of abortion providers in the State has been on the decline since the 1990s.

Furthermore, studies show that access to abortion care is linked to financial well-being. According to The Turnaway Study conducted by Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health at the University of California San Francisco, people who were denied access to an abortion experienced an increase in household poverty lasting at least four years relative to those who received an abortion. In addition, women who lacked access to reproductive care were also found to be less able to pay for basic living expenses and had lower credit scores and higher rates of debt and eviction than those with access to abortion care.

The legislature also finds that the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the federal constitutional right to abortion care. In overturning Roe v. Wade, the United States Supreme Court erased nearly fifty years of legal precedent supporting the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, leading to a wave of abortion restrictions enacted by state legislatures across the country. The legislature finds that the United States Supreme Court's decision disproportionately harms Black, Latino, indigenous, and other people of color, for whom access to health care and economic opportunities has historically been impeded by systemic racism.

In response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the legislature believes that the State must take action to uphold Hawaii's legacy as a leader in advancing reproductive care and enact policies to strengthen reproductive rights in the islands.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to improve access to abortion services in the State by establishing a Hawaii reproductive care workforce special fund, administered by the department of health, to support programs related to training health professionals to increase the State's capacity to provide reproductive care services, increasing access to reproductive care services in rural and remote areas, providing financial assistance to certain students at the University of Hawaii, and projecting future reproductive care workforce needs.

SECTION 2. Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§321- Hawaii reproductive care workforce special fund. (a) There is established within the state treasury the Hawaii reproductive care workforce special fund to be administered by the department of health and into which shall be deposited the following:

(1) Appropriations made by the legislature to the special fund;

(2) Grants provided by governmental agencies or any other source;

(3) Moneys directed to the special fund from contracts;

(4) Donations and contributions made by private individuals or organizations for deposit into the special fund;

(5) Interest accrued on all amounts in the special fund; and

(6) Any other moneys made available to the special fund from other sources.

(b) Moneys from the Hawaii reproductive care workforce special fund shall be expended by the department and shall be used for programs related to:

(1) Training health care professionals to increase the State's capacity to provide reproductive care services;

(2) Increasing access to reproductive care services in rural and remote areas;

(3) Providing financial assistance to students at the University of Hawaii who are pursuing academic programs in fields related to reproductive care; and

(4) Projecting future reproductive care workforce needs."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be deposited into the Hawaii reproductive care workforce special fund established by section 2 of this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the Hawaii reproductive care workforce special fund the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the purposes of the special fund.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 3 and 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	553
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII