Weekly Recap

From Hawaii Family Forum, Feb 15, 2020

Today is First Lateral!

February 14, 2020 - Today is the deadline for which all bills referred to more than one committee (i.e., those with multiple referrals) must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by this day.  If bills are not in their final committee by this day, they are dead this session.

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines

FEB 20 - 26 MANDATORY 5-DAY RECESS - Hawaii's Constitution mandates a 5-day recess between the 20th and 40th days of the regular session. Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate convene or assemble formally in chamber on recess days. Committee hearings do take place.

FEB 28 - FIRST DECKING (BILLS) - Deadline for bills to emerge from all their committees (with committee reports filed) and be submitted to the clerk of the originating chamber. This "decking" ensures a mandatory 48 hour opportunity for final review by the chamber's members before they are asked to vote on the third reading. Note: A bill must pass three readings (votes) in each chamber before being enrolled to the governor.

Suicide Prevention Month Education Bill... Yes, Here we go again!

On Monday, the House Health Committee heard testimony on HB1691, which designates September as suicide prevention and awareness month.
Governor Ige vetoed last years bill because according to his rationale: "HB655 HD1 SD1 should be vetoed because it was erroneously transmitted to the Governor. The Governor firmly believes in the merits of the bill and will designate September of this year as "Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month" by executive order. Additionally, he will work with the legislature to make the necessary legislative fixes so September will be properly designated next session." 

STATUS:  On February 11, 2020, The committees on HLT recommended that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows:
6 Ayes: Representative(s) Mizuno, B. Kobayashi, Nakamura, San Buenaventura, Tokioka, Ward; 
2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Say.

The bill will now move to the House Judiciary Committee.

Assisted Suicide: 3 modified safeguards now only 2

On Wednesday, a joint committee of the House Judiciary and House Consumer Protection & Commerce heard testimony on HB 2451 HD1.  The bill was amended (HD2).  The current version of the bill will allow APRN's to act as an attending or consulting provider under the state assisted suicide law and change the waiting period from 20 to 15 days. 

ONE DOWN:  What the committee removed was very problematic language that would have allowed a waiver of the waiting period between oral requests for patients who were not expected to survive the mandatory fifteen day waiting period.  This is a good news albeit small.

STATUS:  On February 12, the following vote was taken:

2/12/2020 H The committees on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows:
7 Ayes: Representative(s) Takumi, Ichiyama, Belatti, Mizuno, Onishi;
Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Aquino, Har;
3 Noes: Representative(s) Cachola, Kong, Matsumoto; and
1 Excused: Representative(s) Cabanilla Arakawa.

2/12/2020 H The committees on JUD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows:
12 Ayes: Representative(s) C. Lee, San Buenaventura, Brower, Creagan, Lowen, Nakashima, Perruso, Takayama, Thielen;
Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) McKelvey, Say, Yamane;
Noes: none; and
Excused: none.

The bill will now move to the House Finance Committee.

From Around the Nation

High-school athletes file suit to protect fairness

ADF attorneys represent female track competitors
marginalized by Connecticut's allowance of boys in their events

HARTFORD, Conn. - Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing three female high-school track competitors and their mothers filed suit in federal court Wednesday to challenge Connecticut's policy of allowing males to compete in girls' sports-a policy that robs female athletes of opportunities because of the physical advantages of males.
Ever since the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference adopted a policy that allows males who identify as female to compete in girls' athletic events, boys have consistently deprived Selina Soule, Alanna Smith, and Chelsea Mitchell of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels. Mitchell, for example, would have won the 2019 state championship in the women's 55-meter indoor track competition, but because two males took first and second place, she was denied the gold medal. Soule and Smith likewise have been denied medals and/or advancement opportunities.
Full news release, quotes, and related media resources available at the following link.
Case Name: Soule v. Connecticut Association of Schools
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.

What's Coming Up?

Are you a caregiver for someone with dementia-related (challenging) behaviors?

Catholic Charities is offering a Free Workshop For Caregivers of Persons on Dementia-Related Challenging Behaviors.

Friday, February 21, 2020
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Catholic Charities Hawaii, Community Hall,
1822 Keeaumoku St. (Makiki)

Light refreshments provided click here for more information and to register.