STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1352

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 502

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 502, 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 remove discriminatory language governing requirements for insurance coverage of assisted reproductive technology by requiring parity of coverage for in vitro fertilization for same-sex couples, male-female couples for whom male infertility is a factor, and women regardless of marital status.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Advanced Reproductive Medicine & Gynecology, Fertility Institute of Hawaii, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii LGBT Legal Association, Women's Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Women Lawyers, Healthy Mothers Health Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Lambda Law Student Association of the William S. Richardson School of Law, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Rainbow Family 808, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 502, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair