Opioids and Assisted Suicide

From Hawaii Family Forum, April 14, 2018

The speed in which the assisted suicide passed the legislature is still a big concern for many in Hawai'i.  Dangerous medication prescribed with the intent to kill easily sailed through both chambers and then the Governor.  In an interesting twist,  a bill to label opioids as dangerous is also making its way this session.

From the bill introduction:  "The opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in United States history, with drug overdoses claiming more lives in 2016 than motor vehicle accidents or gun violence.  Stated otherwise, the opioid epidemic is tantamount to a new 9/11 attack every three weeks."

It would have been nice to see this kind of concern on "medication" intended to kill. 

Also from the bill, "a health care professional or pharmacist who dispenses any opioid drug shall include on the drug's package a warning label that contains wording substantially similar to the following warning language:"Caution: OPIOID.  Risk of overdose and addiction."

Wouldn't it have made sense to label the assisted suicide drugs as "deadly?" 

HB 1602 - RELATING TO OPIOIDS

Requires that persons who sell opioid drugs must also provide a label warning of the risks of addiction and death.

Primary Introducer: Representative Cynthia Thielen (District 50 - Kaneohe Bay, Kailua)

Passed Third Reading. Transmitted to the House for Conference Committee.

Therapy Ban Bill Heads to Conference Committee

SB270HD2 (therapy ban bill) Prohibits persons who are licensed to provide professional counseling in the State from engaging in, attempting to engage in, or advertising the offering of sexual orientation change efforts on minors. Establishes the Sexual Orientation Counseling Task Force to address the concerns of minors seeking counseling on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, and related behaviors. (SB270 HD2)

STATUS:  Senate disagrees with House amendments.  Each chamber will now assign members to sit on the conference committee.  Remember that members can only sit on the committee if they voted "yes" or "yes with reservations."

Read 2018 Conference Procedures.

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines

APR 16 SECOND LATERAL FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS - All Senate concurrent resolutions with multiple referrals must move to their final House committee by this date.

APR 20 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.

APR 23 SECOND CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS - Deadline for passing amended concurrent resolutions in the non-originating chamber in order to "cross back" to the originating chamber.

APR 26 FINAL DECKING OFNON-FISCAL BILLS - Deadline for submitting non-fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers.

APR 27 FINAL DECKING OFFISCAL BILLS - Deadline for submitting fiscal bills for final reading by both chambers. Fiscal bills include appropriation or spending bills, tax credits, etc., or any bill with a House Finance or Senate Ways and Means referral.

MAY 3 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.

Next, the Legislature will certify the 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.

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