Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2045 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish a pilot perinatal clinic to provide comprehensive prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care to women who have a history of methamphetamine and other substance use, including alcohol and tobacco.

The Department of Human Services, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Hawaii Medical Association, Salvation Army, Coalition for a Smoke Free Hawaii, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists District VIII, Hawaii Section, Planned Parenthood of Hawaii, Drug Policy Action Group, Blueprint for Change, Mililani Town Anti-Drug Committee, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.

Your Committee finds that the health of an unborn baby is placed in serious jeopardy when the mother battles an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, and many times the mother will avoid finding appropriate prenatal care out of fear of prosecution or loss of her child due to her addiction. The children of women who suffer from these addictions need to be protected by offering the mother a safe and trusted place to find appropriate medical assistance.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstative changes for clarity, consistency, 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. 2045, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2045, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.