STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2288

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2886

       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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2886 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGE OF CONSENT FOR ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce barriers in accessing mental health care for adolescents by lowering the age of consent to receive treatment from eighteen years old to twelve years old.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Medical Service Association.

     Your Committees find that requiring parental consent for minors to receive substance abuse treatment and family planning services may pose a barrier to health care.  Minors may find desired mental health services inaccessible due to the discomfort and even opposition caused by obtaining parental consent.  By allowing access to mental health services for consenting minors, individuals seeking improved emotional well-being may be served in a timely manner.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2886, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2886, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

________________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair