STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3401

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 56

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.R. No. 56 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE STATE OF HAWAII'S SUPPORT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD, RECOGNIZING ITS VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING HEALTH CARE, AND DENOUNCING VIOLENCE TOWARDS ABORTION PROVIDERS AND THEIR PATIENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to affirm the State's support for Planned Parenthood, recognizing its vital role in providing health care, and denouncing violence toward abortion providers and their patients.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, American Association of University Women Windward, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Youth Services Network, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and eighty individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Catholic Conference, Hawaii Family Forum, and nine individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands, an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (Planned Parenthood), is a non-profit organization providing medical care and education for women, men, and families throughout diverse communities.  Planned Parenthood offers cancer screenings, pregnancy testing and counseling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, comprehensive sexual health education, preventive health care services, birth control for men and women, emergency contraception, and abortion services, as well as resources on a variety of issues that impact children, families, and young adults, including sexual health education resources.  This measure reaffirms the Legislature's support for Planned Parenthood health centers and staff in carrying out their mission to safeguard and provide access to health care.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that would have expressed the Legislature's gratitude to Planned Parenthood for providing health care to millions of people annually; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 56, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 56, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair