STAND. COM. REP. NO.  476

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 665

      H.D. 2

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 H.B. No. 665, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require that health insurance coverage for mental health treatment includes coverage for case management services provided by licensed mental health providers to victims of sexual violence.

The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Psychological Association, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, IMUAlliance, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Human Services and Hawaii Medical Service Association provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a provision making case management services by licensed mental health providers for victims of sexual violence a reimbursable covered benefit; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to upon approval.

     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 H.B. No. 665, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 665, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair