Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2806 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to authorize pharmacists to dispense emergency contraception drug therapy without a prescription.

Additionally, this bill requires that:

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, ACLU of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Hawaii Women Lawyers, and many concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Board of Pharmacy submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that emergency contraception must be initiated within 72 hours of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. There are several purposes for using emergency contraception including failed birth control methods or unwanted sex. One testifier claimed that only about one in every ten sexually assaulted women report it. The accessibility of emergency contraception will assist those who do not report sexual assault.

Your Committee further finds that emergency contraception drugs are already available, but they must be prescribed by a physician. However, it may be difficult to obtain a prescription outside a physician's office hours. Time is important, as the drugs are more effective the sooner they are taken after unprotected sex. At the same time, your Committee is concerned about the accessibility of emergency contraceptives to minors.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2806, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2806, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.