Second Decking

News Release from Office of Rep Beth Fukumoto, April 8, 2016

Today (April 8) makes the Second Decking deadline for the 2016 Legislative Session. All bills that have been amended by the non-originating chamber, and slated to cross back into their original chamber, must be in their final form 48 hours prior to Third Reading. Decking ensures adequate time for final review by legislators before voting.

Additionally, Second Decking also provides the originating chamber notice of any amendments to the bills made by the non-originating chamber. This provides the originating chamber time to consider whether it agrees to the amendments or whether it will refer the bill to conference committee to resolve disagreements in the language.

Gas Tax and Vehicle Fee Fact Sheet

Click here to read our fact sheet on the proposed gas tax and vehicle fee increase.

Gas Tax and Vehicle Fee Increase

Concussion Education Awareness

Hawaii Concussion Awareness and Management Program is holding a Concussion Education Awareness Night in Mililani. The event will be held on Thursday, April 21 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Mililani Middle School Cafeteria.

The event will focus on the basics of a concussion including what a concussion looks like, the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and when a child should return to school and/or sports following a concussion.

Presenters include: Dr. Ben Chun (Kaiser Permanente), Dr. Rachel Coel (Queen’s Center for Sports Medicine), Dr. Jennifer King (Kapiolani Orthopesedic Associates), and Mr. Jamie Higa (Former Collegiate Basketball Player).

The event is free and open to the public. To register (not required), please visit: http://goo.gl/v6LDFg. 

Mike Buck

Click here to listen to my interview with Mike Buck of The Answer AM 690 from the previous Monday (3/28). We talked about state and national elections, state audits, social media, and the Hawaii State Capitol website.

Committees Completed for 2016

This week, the committees have officially wrapped up their regular hearings for the 2016 legislative session. The legislature will now enter into the conference committee period, where the House and Senate will meet to resolve differences in the various bill versions.

The House Committee for Commerce and Consumer Protection (CPC) finished our final regular committee on Wednesday. I have enjoyed working with my colleagues this session to help the residents of Hawaii and look forward to working with the Senate on any contested bills.

House CPC Committee Members: (Front Row L to R) Rep. Marcus Oshiro, Rep. Sharon Har, Rep. Gregg Takayama, Rep. Tom Brower, Vice-Chair Rep. Justin Woodson, Chair Rep. Angus McKelvey, Rep. Richard Creagan, Rep. Della Au Bellati, Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang. (Back Row L to R) Rep. Derek Kawakami, Rep. Mark Hasham, Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, Rep. Mark Nakashima.

2015 Hawaii Healthcare Heroes

State Capitol (March 29, 2016): House Health Committee members congratulate 2015 Hawai‘i Healthcare heroes (L-R in front row) Dr. Warren Tamamoto, Jim Stremick, MPT, Grace Porras, LPN,  and Dr. Juliette Zelda.

On March 29, 2016, the State Legislature honored the 2015 Hawai‘i Healthcare Heroes.  Founded by Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i in 2014, this annual program gives an opportunity for patients to nominate healthcare professionals who have made a profound impact in their lives.  The 2015 Healthcare Heroes were recognized for their exemplary care they deliver to patients and their loved ones across the state.  These heroes include the following:

Warren Tamamoto, MD, the Chief of Pulmonology at Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i's Moanalua Medical Center;

Jim Stremick, MPT, a Physical Therapist at Prime Care Services Hawai‘i;

Grace Porras, a licensed practical nurse at Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center;

Juliette Zelda, MD, a surgeon at Wilcox Memorial Hospital, specializing in laparoscopic and colorectal surgery; and

Kathy Krammer, MS, CCC-SLP, RN, Senior Speech, Language and Swallowing Pathologist at the Queen's Medical Center (not pictured).