STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1632

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 768

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 768, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IN VITRO FERTILIZATION INSURANCE COVERAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1)  Eliminate discrimination based on marital status in insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization;

(2)  Decrease the amount of time a patient must be shown to be infertile before in vitro fertilization benefits are provided; and

(3)  Provide clarity by defining "infertility".

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii State Democratic Women's Caucus, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, and an individual commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 768, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair