Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review
Abortion in Hawaii Turns 53 on March 11
from Hawaii Family Forum, March 10, 2023
Abortion in Hawaii.
Tomorrow, March 11, marks the 53rd anniversary of abortion in Hawaii. The bill became law on March 11, 1970. Although we cannot give you an exact number of abortions that have taken place since then (exact numbers are not readily available), some sources note over 220,000 of Hawaii's keiki have been lost to abortion since that date. (Source reporting ends at 2020). A few of the testifiers who support abortion claimed during a recent hearing that pro-life people only care about the baby and not the woman. In my experience, that has been the farthest thing from the truth.
When you look at the estimated number of babies who have lost their lives, and then add the women who made that choice, consider that over 220,000 women have experienced this loss as well.
But it doesn't end there. We all know that it takes two to "tango", so, when you also add the father to that number, we become acutely aware that almost half a million people in Hawaii have been affected by the tragedy of abortion.
Want to do something to support life in remembrance? Consider a gift to your pregnancy resource center. Click here to see a list of pregnancy resource centers.
Legislative Session News:
The legislature is now at the half-way point and a crossover has taken place. That means that all bills that are still alive (completed third reading in the originating chamber) have moved to the opposite chamber where the process will begin again.
Upcoming Legislative Deadlines
MAR 13 – BUDGET DECKING – Deadline for submitting the budget bill for third reading.
MAR 15 – BUDGET CROSSOVER – Last day for third reading of the budget bill, to move to the other chamber.
MAR 16 – TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING (BILLS) – All bills referred to three or more committees must be filed so that they can be in their second-tolast committee in the non-originating chamber the following day. (Note: A referral to a joint committee counts as one committee referral.) This deadline allows ample time for successful bills to make their way to their last committee in the non-originating chamber by the Second Lateral deadline.
MAR 24 – SECOND LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills with multiple referrals must move to their final referral committee in the non-originating chamber by this date. (Note: Committees must file their committee report with the bill by the previous day, March 23.)
MAR 28 (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.)
WEEKLY RECAP
Abortion "Monster" Bill Passes Senate
SB1 SD2 (Relating to Healthcare) easily passed the full Senate on Tuesday, March 7. I call this bill the "monster" bill because it has added language to protect medical providers that perform abortions.
The vote in the Senate was as follows:
22 Ayes
3 Noes: Senator(s) Favella, Awa and Gabbard.
Click here to view the floor comments in support by
Senator Joy San Buenaventura (Senator from Puna District)
We truly appreciate the no votes of Senators Favella, Awa and Gabbard. If you are in their district, please contact them and thank them for their vote.
STATUS: The bill has been assigned to ONE HEARING: a joint committee hearing of the House Health Committee and the House Judiciary Committee.
Constitutional Amendment to Enshrine Abortion Passes Senate
SB 1167 SD1, the bill that enshrine "reproductive freedom" into our State Constitution easily passed the Senate. Senator Joy San Buenaventura made an impassioned floor speech about Hawaii being the first in the nation to legalize abortions. Her remarks also included a strong plea to protect doctors who perform abortions.
STATUS: The votes in the Senate were as follows:
22 Ayes
3 Noes: Senator(s) AWA, FEVELLA and GABBARD.
We truly appreciate the no votes of the Senators above. If you are in their district, please contact them and thank them for their votes.
STATUS: The bill has crossed over to the House and has been assigned to two committees: the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and then to House Finance.
Senate OKAYS Recreational Marijuana
But don't worry - kids won't have access to them.
SB 669 SD2 would legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. On March 7, 2023 the Senate voted to pass the bill. Two Senators rose in opposition and gave really good floor speeches: Senator Moriwaki and Senator Inouye. (Mahalo to both of them for their courage to say no!)
The votes in the Senate were as follows:
Ayes, 22;
Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Kidani, Richards, Shimabukuro, Wakai.
Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, Inouye, Moriwaki).
Click here to watch the floor comments provided by:
Senator(s) Moriwaki and Inouye in opposition and
Senator(s) Sanbuenaventura, Keolokalole and Fevella in support.
Mahalo to the three Senators who are standing on the side of caution and concern for the wider community. If you live in their district, please contact them and tell them you appreciate their NO vote. I also appreciate the concern of those who voted with reservations.
STATUS: The bill has crossed over to the House and has been assigned to four committees (the first hearing will be a joint hearing): House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs/House Agriculture and Food Systems, House Consumer Protection and House Finance.
Bill to Remove Safeguards on Physician-Assisted Suicide Moving Along
SB 442 SD1 Relating to Health is the bill that authorizes advanced practice registered nurses, in addition to physicians, to practice medical aid in dying in accordance with their scope of practice and prescribing authority. Authorizes psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, in addition to psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, to provide counseling to a qualified patient. Reduces the mandatory waiting period between oral requests from twenty days to five days. Waives the mandatory waiting period for those terminally ill individuals not expected to survive the mandatory waiting period, under certain conditions.
The votes in the Senate were as follows:
Ayes, 21;
Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Kim.
Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, Fevella, Gabbard).
We appreciate the no votes of the Senators listed above. If you live in their district, please make sure you contact them and thank them for their no vote.
STATUS: The bill has crossed over to the House and assigned to three committees: House Health Committee, House Commerce & Consumer Protection and then House Judiciary.
HB650 HD2 Authorizes advanced practice registered nurses 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. Provides an expedited pathway for terminally ill qualified patients who are not expected to survive the mandatory waiting period. The bill easily passed the full House.
The votes in the House were as follows:
(43) Ayes with Representative(s) Aiu, Chun, Lamosao, Martinez voting aye with reservations;
(8) Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kila, Kitagawa, Kong, Matsumoto, Pierick, Ward voting no
We appreciate that Rep. Pierick tried to offer a floor amendment that ultimately failed. The 8 Representatives that voted no are commended for their caution in moving this bill forward. If they are your Representative, please call them and thank them!
The bill has crossed over to the Senate and assigned to two hearings: a joint hearing of the Senate Health & Human Services and the Senate Consumer Protection and then the Senate Judiciary.
Triple "F" Show: Faith and Family First
Abortion in Hawaii Turns 53 on March 11.
Originally aired on March 9, 2023
This week, Eva and Jim delve into the history of abortion access in Hawaii. They explore the state's constitutional amendment process, including the role of constitutional conventions. They provide insight into the current landscape of abortion legislation in Hawaii, with an overview of bills currently making their way through the state legislature.