STAND. COM. REP. 50
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: H.B. No. 189
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 189 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES FOR SEX ASSAULT SURVIVORS IN EMERGENCY ROOMS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to require hospitals to:
(1) Provide information on emergency contraceptives; and
(2) Offer and provide emergency contraceptives to sexual assault survivors.
The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and Planned Parenthood of Hawaii testified in support of this measure. The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure. The Hawaii Medical Association opposed this measure.
Your Committee finds that many women are not aware of emergency contraception. Furthermore, emergency contraception is effective only when taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse, and is more effective the sooner it is administered. One testifier stated that there are significant barriers to accessing emergency contraception within 72 hours.
Your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Providing an exemption for religious hospitals; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.
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. 189, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 189, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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