STAND. COM. REP. NO. 175-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2524

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2524 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 ensure equitable access to in vitro fertilization for all couples, regardless of sex, gender expression, or marital status by removing discriminatory statutory requirements for health insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization procedures.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, Advanced Reproductive Medicine & Gynecology of Hawaii, Inc., Fertility Institute of Hawaii, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society for Assisted Productive Technology, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Democratic Party of Hawaii LGBT Caucus, Democratic Party of Hawaii Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. Kaiser Permanente and one concerned individual opposed this measure. The Department of the Attorney General and Hawaii Medical Service Association submitted comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting language to establish the In Vitro Fertilization Insurance Coverage Study Group to review existing State statutes and insurance coverage and make recommendations to the Legislature.

Your Committee notes that it has recently considered and deferred H.B. No. 1857, Relating to Gestational Surrogacy, and H.B. No. 2669, Relating to Cancer Patients, which both addressed reproductive rights and access to treatment. Your Committee notes that reproductive rights and access are important issues and that H.B. No. 2524 HD1 is intended to encourage further discussion on this issue.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2524, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2524, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair