STAND. COM. REP. NO.  874-22

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2022

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1697

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1697, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require the Department of Education to provide comprehensive training for teachers and educational officers on sexual health topics that include positive and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, other sexual orientations and gender identities, persons of color, and disability communities to destigmatize and promote sexual health; and

 

     (2)  Require sexuality health education programs funded by the State to include similar sexual health topics to destigmatize and promote sexual health.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Rainbow Family 808, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, North Shore Koolau Diversity Collective, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Hawaii Rainbow Chamber of Commerce, AF3IRM Hawaii, and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu County Republican Party, PEACE Global, We the People, Ohana o Kauai, and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Health.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1697, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair