STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1354

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 143

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 143 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Auditor conduct a social and financial assessment of requiring health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide mandatory health insurance coverage without cost-sharing for a comprehensive category of reproductive health services, drugs, devices, products, and procedures.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Women's Coalition, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Ma‘i Movement Hawai‘i, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawai‘i, ACLU of Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committees find that this measure is intended to fill the gaps in coverage for crucial preventative sexual and reproductive health services and safeguard access to abortion. Your Committees concur with testimony expressing that expanding access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care for the residents of Hawaii reduces discrimination, increases economic security, and ensures a healthy, vibrant democracy.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting references to S.B. No. 623, Regular Session of 2021, where necessary; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 143, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 143, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair