Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 54 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study and make recommendations on the future of the Reproductive Rights Protection Committee.

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Disability and Communication Access Board submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Legislative Reference Bureau submitted comments.

The Reproductive Rights Protection Committee was established to provide clinical and technical support to the Family Court when it has a hearing on a petition filed by an incapacitated person or an interested person for sterilization of the incapacitated person who lacks the legal power to consent. As one proponent noted, the Committee has not had any petitions filed for review since 1995. This measure includes analysis of the reason for the decline in petitions and requests for consultation, and whether there is a continued need for the Committee or its technical input given the lack of activity. The measure also requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to make a recommendation regarding whether there are other ways of providing the Family Court with input other than through the Committee.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 54 and recommends its adoption.