STAND. COM. REP. NO. 632-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2676

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2676, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for a comprehensive category of reproductive health services, drugs, devices, products, and procedures; and

(2) Prohibit discrimination in the provision of reproductive health services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, AAUW of Hawaii, Pono Hawaii Initiative, Breastfeeding Hawaii, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, numerous individuals, and a written petition from numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Association of Health Plans. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Commerce and Consumer Protection, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that thousands of people in Hawaii lack access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health care services, benefits, and protections. Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, without discrimination, is essential for the health and economic security of the people of Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that it is vital to preserve certain important aspects of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and expand access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care for residents of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the assignment of enforcement jurisdiction under the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission for violations of the prohibition against discriminatory denial of insurance coverage for reproductive health care; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2676, 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. 2676, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair