HB 2396: DHS; Adoption; Maternal Health; Motherhood; Task Force

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to Adoption.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 578, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§578-    Website information; agencies providing support

 for pregnant women; adoption information.  (a)  On or before February 1, 2027, the department of human services shall provide on the department's public website home page the following easily comprehensible information, in both English and Hawaiian:

     (1)  A list of public and private agencies and services available to assist a woman through pregnancy, on childbirth and while her child is dependent.  Any agency that counsels, refers, performs, induces, prescribes or provides any means for abortion may not be included on the list.

     (2)  Each agency's services, physical address, telephone number and website address, if available.

     (3)  Information on and a link to a separate featured web page that is accessible by redirecting from the domain name AdoptionOption.HI.gov and that lists all of the following:

          (A)  Public and nonprofit adoption agencies that are not affiliated with an abortion provider and that are arranged geographically.  The link shall include the information specified in paragraph (2) of this section;

          (B)  Easily comprehensible first steps to assist a pregnant woman seeking to confidentially explore the option of placing her child for adoption;

          (C)  Whether the adoption agency allows the woman to choose the adoptive parents;

          (D)  Agencies that offer obstetric ultrasounds free of charge; and

          (E)  Agencies that offer confidential counseling free of charge to a woman considering placing her child for adoption.

     (b)  All information provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this section shall be available in an easily downloadable printed format."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 578, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§578-    Adoption promotion task force; appointments; duties; compensation; delayed repeal.  (a)  The adoption promotion task force is established in the department of human services consisting of the following members:

     (1)  Two licensed clinical social workers who have experience in assisting birth mothers in navigating the adoption process, appointed by the director;

     (2)  Two residents of this state who provide pre-abortion or post-abortion counseling in association with a nonprofit organization that does not counsel for or provide abortion, appointed by the director;

     (3)  Two attorneys who are licensed in this state and who specialize either in advocating for women at risk of being coerced into abortion or in navigating the adoption process, appointed by the director;

     (4)  Two residents of this state who are employed by public or private nonprofit adoption agencies, appointed by the director;

     (5)  Two executive directors, or their designees, of nonprofit organizations that promote adoption as an alternative to abortion, appointed by the director;

     (6)  Two members of the senate, who are appointed by the president of the senate; and

     (7)  Two members of the house of representatives, who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

     (b)  The adoption promotion task force shall advise the department of human services on:

     (1)  Preparing the website information required by section 578-  , Hawaii Revised Statutes, as added by this Act; and

     (2)  Developing a public education initiative to promote adoption.

     (c)  The task force shall serve until it has accomplished the purpose of this Act or twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028, whichever occurs first.

     (d)  The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed by the department of human services for necessary expenses, including travel expenses, incurred for service on the task force.  No member of the task force shall be made subject to section 84-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation on the task force.  The task force shall be exempt from chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     (e)  This section is repealed on July 1, 2028.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DHS; Adoption; Maternal Health; Motherhood; Task Force

Description:

Requires the Department of Human Services to place a link on its public website homepage directing users to information to assist women throughout pregnancy and provide options for adoption.  Establishes an Adoption Promotion Task Force.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.