STAND. COM. REP. NO. 789

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1238

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1238, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a maternal mortality review panel to review and prevent maternal deaths in the State.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and four individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the national maternal mortality rate is increasing; yet, Hawaii is one of only fourteen states without a maternal mortality review committee.  Your Committee finds that establishing a maternal mortality review panel will help to decrease mortality and morbidity by identifying factors associated with women who die during or shortly after pregnancy and proposing system changes that will result in improved health for women in the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Clarifying the definition of "pregnancy-related death";

 

(2)  Clarifying the terms of the initial members of the maternal mortality review panel;

 

(3)  Appropriating an unspecified amount to be expended by the Department of Health for costs relating to the maternal mortality review panel;

 

(4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure; and

 

(5)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the 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. 1238, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1238, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair