STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1955-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   S.B. No. 270

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 270, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MINORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect the physical and psychological well-being of minors, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, from exposure to serious harms caused by sexual orientation change efforts.  Specifically, this measure prohibits persons who are licensed to provide professional counseling in the State from engaging in, attempting to engage in, or advertising the offering of sexual orientation change efforts on minors.

 

     The Board of Psychology, Human Rights Campaign, Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Advocates For Consumer Rights, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Rainbow Family 808, IMUAlliance, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Mental Health America of Hawaii, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Counselors Association, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.

 

The Hawaii Catholic Conference for the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii, Hawaii Family Forum, and many individuals testified in opposition.

 

The Lieutenant Governor, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Health, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, and three individuals provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting its purpose section;

 

     (2)  Establishing the Sexual Orientation Counseling Task Force within the Department of Health to address the concerns of minors seeking counseling on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, and related behaviors; and

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 270, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 270, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair