Bill Text: HI HB1343 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Reproductive Health Care Access.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-14 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Lamosao, Matsumoto, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick, Ward voting no (4) and Representative(s) Kitagawa excused (1). [HB1343 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-HB1343-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1343 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1.
The legislature finds that gender equality in Hawaii is not achievable
without an investment in reproductive health care infrastructure, which
includes the policies, programs, and services needed for access and
destigmatization. Although the State
protects reproductive health care rights, hundreds of thousands of women and
pregnant persons on neighbor islands lack equal access to reproductive health
care. Most reproductive health care
providers are located on the island of Oahu, with some additional providers on
Maui and Hawaii. Women and pregnant
persons on islands with limited or no reproductive health care access and who
need care are required to travel or seek assistance via telehealth. The legislature's intent is to ensure access
to reproductive health care on all populated islands of the State.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
establish and provide funds for a reproductive health care access coordinator
to oversee efforts to provide all women and pregnant persons in the State with
equitable access to reproductive health care.
SECTION 2. Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Part . OFFICE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS
COORDINATOR
§346- Office of
the reproductive health care access coordinator; established. (a) There is established the office of the reproductive
health care access coordinator, to be placed within the department of human
services for administrative purposes.
(b)
The office shall be headed by a reproductive health care access
coordinator, who shall be appointed by the director without regard to chapters 76
and 89. The coordinator shall appoint
one administrative staff member, within available appropriations, and without
regard to chapters 76 and 89.
(c)
The coordinator shall:
(1) Develop and administer a training program for eligible licensed health care providers to facilitate reproductive health care on every populated island in the State;
(2) Develop and administer for eligible licensed health care providers and their care teams a continuing education program on best practices for reproductive health care and patient management;
(3) Subsidize the cost of telehealth technology for reproductive health care providers in the State who demonstrate financial need;
(4) Coordinate and fund reproductive health care providers' reasonable and necessary travel expenses so that providers may provide rural and medically underserved areas of neighbor islands with reproductive health care and follow-up care;
(5) Establish and administer clinics in medically underserved areas of neighbor islands to provide reproductive health care services and information on reproductive health;
(6) Identify state laws, rules, or administrative practices that are barriers to the provision of effective reproductive health care; and
(7) Submit a report of the coordinator's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025 and every year thereafter."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish and fund the office of the reproductive health care access coordinator, including:
(1) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) coordinator position;
(2) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative position;
(3) Reasonable and necessary travel expenses for the office staff and for reproductive health care providers;
(4) The subsidization of telehealth technology costs for reproductive health care providers; and
(5) Any other costs associated with implementing section 2 of this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
Report Title:
DHS; Office of the Reproductive Health Care Access Coordinator; Reproductive Health Care; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
and appropriates funds for the Office of the Reproductive Health Care Access
Coordinator within the Department of Human Services for administrative
purposes. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
