STAND. COM. REP. NO.  338

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 528

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 528 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MINORS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to allow a minor who is not under the care or custody of a parent or other guardian to consent to the provision of primary medical care and services.

     The Hawaii Primary Care Association, Waikiki Health Center, Hale Kipa, National Association of Social Workers Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Family Forum, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Kaiser Permanente, Queen's Medical Center, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Service Association supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Specifying that health care practitioners are not liable for treating a minor patient who misrepresented themselves as a minor without support;

     (2)  Inserting provisions pertaining to confidential communications under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 528, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 528, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services & Housing and Health,

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair

____________________________ MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair