 By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee yesterday approved bills that would raise the age of consent for sex and require physicians to notify parents before performing an abortion on a minor.
The measures now advance to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The committee voted 5-1 to pass a bill that would prohibit sex between minors younger than 16 and adults who are at least five years older. Sen. Carol Fukunaga D-12th (Makiki, Ala Moana, Tantalus), voted against the measure.
The bill exempts adults who are legally married to the minor.
The current age of consent for sex is 14 years of age.
Opponents of the bill said more discussion needs to take place before changing the law. They also said young girls who are involved with older men often don’t think anything is wrong and may suffer psychosocial consequences if they don’t receive emotional support when criminal action is taken.
But supporters of the bill said the measure would be an essential step in protecting young people from sexual exploitation.
Health and Human Services Committee Chairman David Matsuura, D-2nd (South Hilo, Puna), yesterday said Hawai‘i has one of the lowest ages of consent in the nation, and the bill would bring the state’s law up to national standards.
The committee also unanimously passed a bill that would require physicians to notify a minor’s parents at least 96 hours before performing an abortion. A physician who does not comply could face a $1,000 fine or five years in prison.
The bill also allows minors from abusive homes to seek a judicial bypass that would waive the requirement for parental notification.
Opponents have said such a law would force some teens to seek abortions illegally.
Supporters said parents should be informed about any medical procedure and that notification would allow parents to help their daughters cope with the emotional effects of the abortion.
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