STAND. COM. REP. NO. 913

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 821

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENDER EQUITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require:

(1) All places of public accommodation constructed or substantially modified after June 30, 2019, to provide baby diaper-changing accommodations that are equally accessible to men and women; and

(2) All existing places of public accommodation that have not been substantially modified to provide baby diaper-changing accommodations that are equally accessible to men and women by July 1, 2022.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Youth Services Network, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and five individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that American fathers are much more involved in child care today than they were fifty years ago and attitudes among men toward gender and family norms are increasingly egalitarian. Despite this, diaper-changing accommodations are relatively common in women's restrooms but are still often omitted from men's restrooms. Your Committees further find that caregivers of both genders need adequate, safe, and sanitary facilities to change diapers. Public accommodations need to meet the requirements of equality under the law for men and women and should reflect the reality of changing gender roles and enable men to embrace caregiving.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 821, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair