STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2797

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3125

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3125, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize certain minors to consent to medical care for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and family planning services.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Permits minors who are fourteen to seventeen years of age to consent to certain medical care and services;

(2) Replaces the term "venereal disease", as it relates to medical care and services for minors, with the term "sexually transmitted infection", and defines that term;

(3) Authorizes licensed health care providers to submit insurance claims for certain minor-initiated medical care and services; and

(4) Establishes confidentiality protections for minors initiating medical care and services.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Disability and Communication Access Board, Essential Access Health, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Pride at Work Hawaii, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that minors are often reluctant to seek crucial medical care for reproductive health services, including sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. Your Committee believes that allowing minors to initiate certain medical care, with assurances of confidentiality, will help to improve the health of minors throughout the State and reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections among the State's youth.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3125, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3125, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair