From Hawaii Family Forum, April 28, 2017

Final Decking of Fiscal Bills

Today, April 28, 2017 is the deadline for submitting fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers. Fiscal bills include appropriation or spending bills, tax credits, etc. that emerge from the fiscal committee (House Finance, Senate Ways and Means) of their respective originating chamber.

"Bully Bill" Makes it Out of Conference at the Last Minute

SB 501 passed out of conference today, April 28, 2017 in a Conference Draft which is not available at this time.  (UPDATE: Now available HERE.)  We will send out another detailed analysis once local ADF allied attorney Jim Hochberg has a chance to review and comment.  The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.

The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows:

• 3 in SUPPORT(s): Senator(s) Baker, Keith-Agaran, K. Rhoads;
• 1 NO: Senator Kidani;
• and 1 Excused: Senator Tokuda.

The votes of the House Conference Managers were as follows:

• 3 in SUPPORT: Representative(s) Belatti, Nishimoto & Kobayashi
• 1 SUPPORT WITH RESERVATION: Representative Thielen

Upcoming Legislative Dates:

MAY 4, 2017 -- ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE - In Latin, "sine die" means "without a day specified for future meeting." Adjournment sine die occurs on the 60th legislative day of a regular session, and indicates a suspension of the business of the legislature indefinitely. From this point, the Legislature will certify bills whose form both chambers have agreed to, and will transmit or "enroll" those bills to the Governor. Contact PAR for information regarding the Governor's deadlines.

JUST RELEASED

2017 Economic Outlook Ranking
Hawaii ranked at 43 Overall
Hawaii ranked at 26 Economic Performance

HFF Signs National Letter to HUD Regarding Safety & Privacy of Women

April 27, 2017

"We write to urge you to amend 24 C.F.R. Part 5, to protect the safety and privacy of women in need of shelter due to homelessness or violence. We are a diverse group of women and organizations allied in a common cause: mothers, feminists, women of faith, lesbian and bisexual women's rights activists, and concerned neighbors, convened through the Hands Across The Aisle Coalition, to request your consideration for our sisters without stable housing."  |  Read full letter here.

What's Coming Up?

National Day of Prayer - Hawaii Style!

Governor David Ige signed a Proclamation in Recognition of the National Day of Prayer, Thursday, May 4, 2017.  National Day of Prayer Resources can be found at the official website.

In Hawaii, these events are scheduled on Thursday, May 4th:

KAUAI- Mo'ikeha Building Rotunda

• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Click here for more information

BIG ISLAND - Wailoa RiverState Park

• 11:00 - 1:00 p.m.
• Sponsored by Concerned Women for America (Hawaii)
• Click here for more information

OAHU - State Capitol Auditorium

• 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
• Sponsored by Hawaii Christian Coalition
• Click here for flyer | Contact Cheryl Witbeck for more information

You Can Stop Assisted Suicide: Presentation Information

SB 1129, the assisted suicide bill, did not make it out of the Health Committee.  We are grateful that the discussion of safeguards made a difference to the committee, while even some local experts in the medical field expressed deep concerns about its passage.  This bill, and any other like it, is not what the people of Hawai'i want.  Come to this workshop and find out why suicide is never a solution.

• May 9, 2017 (Tuesday)
• Immaculate Conception Church
• 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
• Click here for flyer.

May is National Foster Care Month