Halfway Point Legislation Alive and Dead

from Hawaii Family Forum, Feb 25, 2022

Prayer Changes Things.

Our hearts and prayers are lifted up in unity with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.  May the God of Peace intervene in a mighty way.  It's hard to imagine waking up to the sound of gun fire and hearing explosions in the distance.  We are mindful of the parents huddling with their children in the subway stations  praying for peace.  May the Lord speak peace and wisdom to world leaders as they navigate this situation.

WEEKLY RECAP

Protection for Pregnant Women

SB2027, Relating to Murder, amends provisions relating to first degree murder.  This bill adds a person that commits the offense of first degree murder to include a pregnant woman and a child 14 years old or less.  

HAWAII FAMILY FORUM SUBMITTED TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL.

The opposition to this bill was not surprising... the Judiciary in the State of Hawaii commented that "that the Hawaiʻi Penal Code does not provide a definition of "viable fetus."  The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women have "concerns that this bill borders on "fetal rights," sees the fetus as an additional victim, and may have a chilling effect on the right to abortion."  The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence testified that this bill  "would result in the unintended consequence of conferring rights or personhood to a fetus as a victim of crime would undermine Hawaii's abortion laws. Intimate partner violence is also a sexual and reproductive health and rights issue. Rape and reproductive coercion are a form of abuse and violence. Access to abortion and reproductive health is paramount in the care of victims"

STATUS:  The bill was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 24.  The committee .....The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.   The amendments include removing the provision of "viable" regarding the baby and changing the age of child from 14 to 10.  The votes in JDC were as follows: 7 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Keohokalole, Acasio, Gabbard, Kim, Lee, Fevella.

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

-----> We will send out a notice soon so you can send a message to your Senator asking them to support this bill when it comes to the floor for vote.

Medicaid Funding for Women Who Give Birth

SB2634 SD1, Relating to Health, appropriates money to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months following the end of pregnancy.

HAWAII FAMILY FORUM SUBMITTED TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT.

STATUS:  The Senate Committee on Ways and Means heard the bill on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.  The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Misalucha, Moriwaki, Shimabukuro, Taniguchi, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella.

The bill will now move to the full Senate for a vote.  The House version (below) was deferred in committee so we hope that this version will pass the Senate and that the House will pass it.

ACTION TO COME-----> We will send out a notice to you soon so that you can send a message to your Senator asking them to vote yes on this when it comes up for a vote.

HB1773, Relating to Health, appropriates money to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to 12 months following the end of pregnancy.

HAWAII FAMILY FORUM SUBMITTED TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT

STATUS:  The House Finance Committee heard the bill on Thursday, February 24, 2022. The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.  That means this bill is dead.

Assisted Suicide Expansion Bill Passes House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs

Assisted Suicide in not health care.

HB1823 HD1 , the assisted suicide expansion bill, has cleared its final House committee.  

HAWAII FAMILY FORUM SUBMITTED TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.

STATUS:  The bill was heard by the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee on Thursday, February 24.  The committee voted to pass the bill out of committee with minor amendments to the bill. As of this email, the website has not updated the vote, but according to my tally, Rep. Ward was a no vote and Rep. McKelvey was yes with reservations.  There was one member excused but I couldn't see on the screen which one it was.  I don't want to misrepresent any of the yes votes for the absent member for suffice it to say there are 11 members on this committee so the bill handily pas

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

-----> We will send out a notice when the bill moves to final reading in the House so that you can send a message to your Representative asking them to vote NO on the bill.

TAKE ACTION!

"Abortion on Demand Until Birth Act" up for US Senate vote

Senators will vote on the "Abortion On Demand Until Birth Act" (H.R. 3755) when they return to the Capitol next week (2/28). In September 2021, the bill passed the House 218 to 211, and as you are already aware, both Rep. Kahele and Rep. Case voted in favor.

While the alleged purpose of the bill (according to Democrats) is to codify Roe, the bill goes far beyond Roe. The Abortion On Demand Until Birth Act would create a federal entitlement to "access" abortion. It would remove any barriers to abortion and even supersede laws such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION!

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