STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1212

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 528

       H.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 528, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MINORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to enable minors without support to obtain medical care.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Queen's Medical Center; Kaiser Permanente; Hawaii Family Forum; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai‘i; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Hale Kipa; Waikiki Health Center; Partners In Care; Volunteer Legal Services Hawai‘i; Hawaii Youth Services Network; Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i; and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds this measure will allow the approximately one thousand youth living on their own to obtain needed medical care for acute illness or injury.  This group of minors is very vulnerable and many of them are homeless, running away from abusive situations or drug addicted parents.  Under existing law, these youths are unable to obtain medical care because physicians and clinics require parental consent for the treatment of minors because of concerns about liability.

     Your Committee notes that the measure provides clear definitions and a clear explanation of the scope and nature of medical care to which the minor can consent to and under what circumstances.

     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. 528, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair