Weekly Recap

From Hawaii Family Forum, April 6, 2018

18k Signatures Against Assisted Suicide Delivered to Governor Ige!

On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, 18,036 signatures in opposition to assisted suicide were personally delivered to Governor Ige.  The delivery of the petitions, including statements of Hawaii Family Forum, was featured in several television stations and various newspaper print articles -  not only in Hawaii, but even on the mainland. 

Mahalo to each and every one of you who supported the petition drive in our communities. 

Governor Signs Assisted Suicide Bill!

On Thursday, April 5, 2018, fulfilling his promise that he would be honored to sign the bill allowing doctors to assist with the death of their patients, Governor David Ige hosted a signing in the same location where he received 18k signatures in opposition. 

Compassion and Choices was quick to send out their victory notice.  According to them, they've "already begun work on an Access Campaign to ensure all residents and healthcare professionals receive education about the steps involved and how to navigate the process before it goes into effect on January 1, 2019. [They] don't want any patient or doctor to be discouraged or dissuaded. Instead, [they] want them to know that Compassion & Choices is here to help. "

Passage of the bill in Hawai'i is hardly the momentum they are going to opine.  Since Oregon passed assisted suicide in 1997, only 6 laws allowing assisted suicide have been passed (DC not being a state and Hawai'i being the last to do so), while ten laws have been passed to ban it.  It is also important to note that since 1997, twice as many States have acted against this agenda then follow Oregon's lead.  (See Lozier institute map)

Therapy Bill Clears Final Committee

SB 270 HD1, the bill that claims to protect minors from dangerous conversion "therapy" has cleared its final committee.  Amendments were made to the bill, but those amendments are not posted yet.

The votes in the House Judiciary were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Nishimoto, San Buenaventura, Brower, Morikawa, Takayama, Thielen; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) McDermott; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) C. Lee.

An interesting note is that a petition was included online as testimony that provides signatures from people all across the nation - not just people from Hawaii.  It is also outdated from 2016.  Seems that some petitions are received by the legislature better than others.

Implications of passage is clear by what is happening in California.  AB 2943 is making its way through the California legislature.  California already passed a bill just like SB270.  The implications of this new legislation, according to experts, spread far beyond regulating the type of counseling offered by licensed counselors, who are already banned from helping minors with unwanted same-sex attractions. Several legal experts have confirmed that this bill targets the ability of religious non-profits, churches, and pastors from teaching and practicing their faith regarding sexual orientation and gender.

Last Surviving Anti-Suicide Bill Heard in Final Committee

(Photo from Suicide Prevention Resource Center)

This session we started out with several bills with the laudable goal of reducing suicide in Hawaii.  Bills that would have (1) established a task force to reduce suicides in Hawaii by 25% (HB2278 HD1), (2) designate September as Suicide Prevention Month (HB1703) and (3) create an application for smartphones designed to provide resources to Hawaii's youth (HB1704) all perished.

The final bill, that gives $25k to Maui county, is still alive (HB2169 HD1).  The Senate Ways & Means Committee held a decision making on Friday, April 6, 2018 and passed the bill out of committee with amendments.

The votes in WAM were as follows: 7 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, English, Kidani, Riviere, Shimabukuro, Wakai; and 4 Excused: Senator(s) Galuteria, Harimoto, Inouye, K. Kahele.

STATUS:  The bill will now to go to the full Senate floor for a vote.

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines

APRIL 12, 2018  | SECOND CROSSOVER (BILLS)

Deadline for bills to pass third reading in their non-originating chamber in order to "cross back" to the originating chamber.

APRIL 12, 2018 | 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 b ill, members from each chamber can meet in a "conference" committee to reconcile their differences.

APRIL 16, 2018 | SECOND LATERAL FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

All Senate concurrent resolutions with multiple referrals must move to their final House committee by this date.

APRIL 20, 2018 | DEADLINE FOR FINAL FORM OF BILLS PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

A proposed amendment's final form must be provided by written notice to the Governor at least 10 days prior to passing final reading by a 2/3 vote in each chamber. Once adopted by the Legislature, the proposed amendment is submitted to the voters, in the form of a 'yes or no' question on the ballot, for ultimate decision.