STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2510

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3125

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 3125 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL CARE FOR MINORS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize minors who are fourteen years or older to consent to medical care for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and family planning services, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections; and

(2) Require confidentiality policies and practices for insurers and providers.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Partners in Care, Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Rainbow Family 808, Opportunity Youth Action Hawaiʻi, and ten individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure by three individuals.

Your Committees find that existing law permits minors to consent to medical care for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually-transmitted diseases, but not for the prevention of these diseases. Allowing youth who are over the age of fourteen years to consent to preventative care and other family planning services can empower them to get access to life-saving medication and is a valuable step in ending the HIV epidemic in Hawaii. This measure will therefore resolve this critical gap in a minor's access to medical care.

Your Committees have amended this measure by 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 Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3125, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3125, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair