| 47 | | - | 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. |
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| 47 | + | 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 to seek assistance via telehealth. The legislature's intent is to ensure access to reproductive health care on all major islands. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and provide moneys 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 of human services 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 healthcare professionals to facilitate reproductive health care on every permanently populated island in the State; (2) Develop and administer for eligible licensed healthcare professionals 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 each regular session." 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 upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2023. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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