Weekly Recap

From Hawaii Family Forum, March 29, 2019

Suicide Prevention Bills Still Moving

HB330 HD1 SD1  Appropriates moneys for youth suicide early intervention, prevention, and education initiatives in Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui counties.  HFF supported the bill.

STATUS:  On March 28, 2019, the Senate Ways & Means Committee passed the bill unamended.  The votes in WAM were as follows:

11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, English, Harimoto, Inouye, K. Kahele, Kanuha, Kidani, Moriwaki, Riviere, Fevella;

2 Excused: Senator(s) Shimabukuro, Taniguchi.

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

HB 655 HD 1 Designates the month of September of each year as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. HFF supported the bill.

STATUS:  On March 28, 2019 The Senate Committee on Labor Culture and the Arts recommended that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in LCA were as follows:

4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Taniguchi, Ihara, S. Chang, Gabbard;

1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

The bill will now move to the full Senate for a vote.

SB 383 HD 1 Requires DOE to establish a mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training program and model risk referral protocol, based on existing materials created by DOH, for all public schools, including charter schools. Requires charter schools to provide the training program and risk referral protocol to all school personnel who work directly with students in department schools and charter schools, respectively.  

HFF supported the bill.

STATUS:  On March 29, 2019 the House Committee on Finance recommended that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows:

15 Ayes: Representative(s) Luke, Cullen, Eli, Gates, Hashimoto, Holt, Kitagawa, B. Kobayashi, Matayoshi, Nakamura, Nishimoto, Todd, Wildberger, Yamashita, McDermott

The bill will now move to the full House for a vote.

Palliative Care Education Bill Moving

SB 804 HD1 Establishes the culturally competent palliative care pilot program within the DOH to provide public education and conduct two home- or community-based palliative care pilot programs. Establishes an advisory group to oversee the pilot program.  HFF supported the bill.

STATUS:  On 03/28/19 The House committee on Finance recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows:

13 Ayes: Representative(s) Luke, Cullen, Eli, Gates, Hashimoto, Kitagawa, B. Kobayashi, Matayoshi, Nakamura, Nishimoto, Wildberger, Yamashita, McDermott;

2 Excused: Representative(s) Holt, Todd.

The bill will now move to the full House for a vote.

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines

APR 4 -- FIRST CROSSOVER FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS

Deadline for passing the single floor vote for adoption required for resolutions in order to move from the originating chamber to the other chamber.

APR 5 -- SECOND DECKING (BILLS)

Deadline for bills that have been amended by the non-originating chamber to emerge from all their committees (with committee reports filed) and be submitted to the clerk of that chamber. This "decking" ensures a mandatory 48 hour opportunity for final review by the non-originating chamber's members before third reading.

APR 11 -- SECOND CROSSOVER (BILLS)

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

APR 11 -- 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 bill, members from each chamber can meet in a "conference" committee to reconcile their differences.

From Around the Nation

Equality Act (HR 5)

Speaker Pelosi has prioritized legislation called the Equality Act, HR 5, for quick action in the US House this Congress. We expect a House vote before June 30, but possibility as soon as April. Many faith-based groups announced its opposition to this legislation last week. Our concerns are significant and numerous, as you can read in our release and letters. All of this to say, if you have not done so already, please consider sending a message to your Congressional Leader today. 

Additional background: In short, HR 5/S 788 would redefine "sex" across federal law to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." The new requirements under HR 5 would touch all federal dollars - from Catholic & Christian hospitals, to faith-based charities agencies, to Catholic & Christian schools wishing to participate in school lunch programs. The bill also greatly expands the federal definition of public accommodations and explicitly exempts itself from the protections of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.

Infant Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act (H.R. 962)

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) introduced the discharge petition on February 6, and other members can sign on when it becomes active on April 2. When a majority of members sign onto the discharge petition, it will force a vote on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 962).

House Democrats have blocked requests to pass the bill by unanimous consent 20 times, and on February 4, Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) blocked the companion Senate bill (S. 311) after Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) sought to pass it by unanimous consent.

Click here to send a message to your Representative in the U.S. Congress asking them to sign the discharge petition and allow a vote!

What's Coming Up?

Community Events

Unplanned, the story of Abby Johnson who worked for Planned Parenthood and is now a strong pro-life activist, is currently playing in two locations.  For dates, times and ticket information, visit visit Regal Dole Cannery site and Regal Kapolei Commons 12.

April 26-27, 2019