A "temporary" win for Hawaii's keiki.

from Hawaii Family Advocates, March 25, 2022

Senator Michelle Kidani, chair of the Education committee in the Senate, rightly decided not to hear the bad sex education bill, HB1697.  Since the bill has died, you would think the battle is over.  It is not.

Two resolutions are moving in the House that basically creates a STUDENT-LED (with help from some of our opponents) study to accomplish what they were trying to do in HB1697.  A hearing was scheduled for HCR138/HR138 by the House Education Committee and they passed it out without amendments yesterday.

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HR 138 / HCR 138 REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A STUDENT-LED WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR ACTIVE INCLUSION OF DIVERSE IDENTITIES WITHIN AND BEYOND SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION, TO TEACH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE IDEAS AROUND MUTUAL RESPECT IN RELATIONSHIPS, AND TO FIND SITES OF POTENTIAL ACTIVE INCLUSION OF THESE IDENTITIES IN SEXUAL HEALTH CURRICULA, ALL WITHIN THE FRAMING PRINCIPLES OF ALOHA KEKAHI I KEKAHI.

HR138: Text, Status

HCR138: Text, Status

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The recent show that Eva Andrade and I completed, is an interview with Rep. Bob McDermott about HB1697.  Please take some time to watch it because you need to be educated about what happens at our State Capitol.  Especially now that the two resolutions above are being set up to accomplish the same thing (via the "student-led" task force.)

BAD BILL: HB 1697

What are Hawaii's keiki being taught? Eva and Jim explore national trends and concerning policies that may cause you to want to ask the question: what are schools teaching? Rep. Bob McDermott (R-Ewa Beach) joins us. Special Guest: Rep. Bob McDermott (Republican) H District 40 | Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa By Gentry, Iroquois Point

HB1697: Text, Status

RELATED: HSTA Seminar: How to Transsexualize K-12 Students

BACKGROUND: HB2125 Deferred: Would Criminalize Parental Involvement in Education

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Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review

from Hawaii Family Forum, March 25, 2022

Community Announcements

Celebrating Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole

Today, we are celebrating the birth of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole - heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, prince of the House of Kalākaua, and later territorial delegate to the United States Congress.  It was established in 1949 by the legislature of the Territory of Hawaii. 
Want to learn more about him, click here. 

We hope you are enjoying the day off with your ohana.

WEEKLY RECAP

Assisted Suicide Expansion Bill Keeps on Moving

HB 1823 HD2 Relating to Health authorizes advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to practice medical aid in dying or provide counseling to a qualified patient. Amends the mandatory waiting period between oral requests and the provision of a prescription. Prohibits the disclosure, discovery, or compelled production of information collected or retained pursuant to incidental or routine communication between DOH and qualified patients or providers.

HFF submitted testimony in opposition to this bill.

STATUS:  On March 21, 2022, the Senate committee(s) on HTH recommended that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HTH were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Baker, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki.

The bill will now move to a joint committee hearing of the Senate CPC and JDC.

Harassment Bill that was Huge Concern to Parents is DEFERRED by Senate Education Committee

HB 2125 HD1 Relating to Official School Business, had it passed, would have required DOE and BOE to take certain steps to better address harassment of its employees. Creates the offense of harassment of an educational worker for disrupting or interfering with the administration or functions of any school, school administration office, or school board. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

Parents were very concerned that this bill was a step towards silencing any opposition to what is happening on public school property.  We thank Senator Michelle Kidani and the Senate Education committee for deferring the bill and listening to the concerns of the parents.

Hawaii Family Forum submitted testimony in opposition.

STATUS:  On March 23, 2022, the Senate EDN committee voted to defer the bill.  Sen. Kidani made it a point to assure the community that the intent of the bill was never to silence parents.  The DOE asked that the bill be pulled and made that statement public that the intent was misread by the community.

HB1697 Becomes Resolution: Let the Keiki do the Dirty Work

HB1697 Relating to Sexual Health Education was not heard by the Senate Education Committee.  That means that bill is dead. Chairwoman Sen. Kidani did not place the bill on the schedule for a hearing and for that, we are truly grateful.  

That should have been good news. However, the issue is not over.

The House has introduced *resolutions (HCR138/HR138)  "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A STUDENT-LED WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR ACTIVE INCLUSION OF DIVERSE IDENTITIES WITHIN AND BEYOND SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION, TO TEACH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE IDEAS AROUND MUTUAL RESPECT IN RELATIONSHIPS, AND TO FIND SITES OF POTENTIAL ACTIVE INCLUSION OF THESE IDENTITIES IN SEXUAL HEALTH CURRICULA, ALL WITHIN THE FRAMING PRINCIPLES OF ALOHA KEKAHI I KEKAHI."

The resolutions are going to establish a working group (student-led) to create a report for the legislature that asks [basically] for the contents of HB1697.  

*Note: 
A Resolution (e.g. HR - House Resolution and SR - Senate Resolution) is a measure expressing the will, wish, or direction of the Legislature. It does not have the effect of law.

A Concurrent Resolution (e.g. HCR - House Concurrent Resolution and SCR - Senate Concurrent Resolution) is a resolution which requests action or states the Legislature's position on an issue.

STATUS:  On Thursday, March 24, 2022, the House Committee on Education recommended that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, Kapela, Belatti, Clark, Costales, Ganaden, Hashimoto, Quinlan, Takayama, Yamane; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Okimoto; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Gates, Ohno.

The resolutions will now move to the House Finance Committee.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Hearing on Senate Resolutions Supporting Abortion Access

SCR 206 and SR 199 URGING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO STRONGLY SUPPORT PASSAGE OF THE WOMEN'S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT OF 2021 TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO ACCESS AND PROVIDE ABORTION SERVICES has been scheduled for hearing on Monday, March 28th by the Senate Health Committee.

If you want to testify against this resolution, please click this link for hearing notice.

Resolutions do not have the same force of law behind. them, but they so represent the position of the legislature.  Remember, the legislature speaks for you too so if you don't like what they are saying, you have every right to send in your thoughts on the issue. Of course with respect. 

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines

MAR 29 (SENATE) AND 31 (HOUSE) - FIRST LATERAL FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS - All concurrent resolutions with multiple referrals must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by these dates. (Note: HCRs must be filed by March 30.) 

APR. 7 - FIRST CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS - Deadline for concurrent resolutions to pass the required single floor vote in the originating chamber. Upon adoption by the originating chamber, concurrent resolutions move or "crossover" to the other chamber. (Measures must be filed by Wednesday, April 6.) 

APR 8 - SECOND DECKING (BILLS) - Deadline for bills that have been amended by the non-originating chamber to emerge from all their committees (with committee reports filed) and be submitted to the clerk of that chamber. This "decking" ensures a mandatory 48-hour opportunity for final review by the non-originating chamber's members before third reading. (Note: House Bills with only a single referral need to be filed by the committee by April 7.) 

APR 14 - SECOND CROSSOVER (BILLS) - Deadline for bills to pass third reading in their non-originating chamber and to "cross back" to the originating chamber. 

APR 14 - LAST DAY FOR THE ORIGINATING BODY TO DISAGREE WITH BILL AMENDMENTS - The deadline for the originating chamber to disagree with changes made to its bills by the other chamber. When the Senate and House disagree on a bill, members from each chamber can meet in conference committees to reconcile their differences.

Triple "F" Show: Faith and Family First

Indoctrination of Hawaii's Keiki?

What are Hawaii's keiki being taught? Eva and Jim explore national trends and concerning policies that may cause you to want to ask the question: what are schools teaching? Rep. Bob McDermott (R-Ewa Beach) joins us. Special Guest: Rep. Bob McDermott (Republican) H District 40 | Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa By Gentry, Iroquois Point

Although the bill is dead, the issue is not because a resolution to do the same thing is moving.  Stay plugged in as we continue to talk about this issue.

Originally aired on March 23, 2022.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

TAKE ACTION!

Support Florida Family Policy Council: Send a message to Disney

You all have been watching what is happening in Florida.  Our sister organization, the Florida Family Policy Council is collecting signatures for Disney.  The letter is asking Disney to stop attacking parents who want to stay plugged into their children's education.  Part of the letter states.... "We urge Disney to reconsider its position in opposition to Florida's HB 1557 and stop taking political stances against parents and their children in other states."

If you would like to sign the letter, click this link.

FROM AROUND THE NATION

Pro-abortion Extremism Ahead of SCOTUS Hearings

Nearly 40 Pro-life Leaders Detail Jackson's Pro-abortion Record in Letter to Senate

Washington, D.C. - As confirmation hearings began for President Biden's Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, a coalition of nearly 40 national and state pro-life leaders (including Hawaii Family Forum) spearheaded by Susan B. Anthony List sent a letter Monday to the chairs of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee detailing the nominee's pro-abortion record.

In 2001, in McGuire v. Reilly, Jackson co-authored an amicus brief supporting a Massachusetts law that created a floating "buffer zone" to prevent pro-life sidewalk counselors from approaching to speak with women outside of abortion facilities. Jackson's clients included NARAL, the Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts, the League of Women Voters, and the Abortion Access Project of Massachusetts. NARAL and the pro-abortion National Women's Law Centerstrongly supported her nomination to the D.C. Circuit.

Read the full letter here.