STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2315

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2615

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2615 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MINORS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, against exposure to serious harms caused by sexual orientation change efforts.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUAlliance, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, Rainbow Family 808, Honolulu Council of MoveOn.org, Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and twenty-five individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawaii Family Advocates, Hawaii Family Forum, Christian Counseling and Research Centers of America, Hawaii Catholic Conference, and four individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

     Your Committees find that most professional associations of mental health practitioners and researchers in the United States recognize that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is not a disease, disorder, illness, deficiency, or shortcoming.  According to the American Psychological Association, there is not sufficient evidence to demonstrate that sexual orientation change efforts have any efficacy.  Instead, the American Psychological Association found that sexual orientation change efforts are more often harmful, especially when they are directed toward children or adolescents.  Such therapies confuse children and adolescents with inaccurate scientific information regarding sexual orientation, and frequently employ fear-based techniques.  Participants often report severe and prolonged psychological and social disturbances as a result of sexual orientation change efforts.  These practices are contrary to current clinical and professional standards.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing language specifically prohibiting teachers from engaging in or advertising sexual orientation change efforts and subjecting such teachers to appropriate disciplinary action; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2615, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2615, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair