Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review
from Hawaii Family Forum, March 11, 2022
Today marks 52 years of abortion in Hawaii!
While debate on the actual number of abortions in Hawaii remains ongoing (getting the actual numbers are very difficult), according to Johnston Archives, 221,211 Hawai'i babies in Hawaii have lost their lives since Act 1, was signed into law on March 11, 1970.
This bill became law without the signature of then Governor John Burns.
Need context? That number would fill the Aloha Stadium over four times.
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WEEKLY RECAP
Important Deadlines This Week!
YESTERDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 WAS CROSSOVER.
That means it was the deadline for bills to pass third reading in order to move (or "crossover") to the other chamber. If successful, House bills are sent to the Senate and Senate bills are sent to the House for further consideration. For the bills still alive, that means we start the process all over again in the opposite chamber.
TODAY, MARCH 11, 2022, IS THE LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE SUBSTANTIVE RESOLUTIONS
Concurrent resolutions (HCRs and SCRs) require adoption in each chamber and are used to state the official position of the Legislature on an issue, or to request action formally without having to mandate it by law. They require only one vote in each chamber for adoption, and do not enroll to the Governor.
Upcoming Legislative Deadlines
MAR 14 - BUDGET DECKING - Deadline for submitting the budget bill for third reading.
MAR 16 - BUDGET CROSSOVER - Last day for third reading of the budget bill, to move to the other chamber.
MAR 17 - TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING (BILLS) - All bills referred to three or more committees must be filed so that they can be in their second-tolast committee in the non-originating chamber the following day. (Note: A referral to a joint committee counts as one committee referral.) This deadline allows ample time for successful bills to make their way to their last committee in the non-originating chamber by the Second Lateral deadline.
MAR 24 - SECOND LATERAL (BILLS) - All bills with multiple referrals must move to their final referral committee in the non-originating chamber by this date. (Note: Committees must file their committee report with the bill by the previous day, March 23.)
MAR 29 (SENATE) AND 31 (HOUSE) - FIRST LATERAL FOR CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS - All concurrent resolutions with multiple referrals must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by these dates. (Note: HCRs must be filed by March 30.)
HB1697 Sex Ed Bill Update and Rally
HB 1697 HD1 Relating to Education, requires DOE to offer comprehensive training for teachers and educational officers on sexual health topics that include positive and accurate representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, other sexual orientations and gender identities, persons of color, and disability communities to destigmatize and promote sexual health. Requires sexual health education programs to include similar sexual health topics to destigmatize and promote sexual health. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)
STATUS: On March 4, 2022 Passed Third Reading in the House.
Yes Votes (40):
Yes with Reservations: (4) Representative(s) Gates, Holt, Okimoto, Quinlan
No Votes: Representative(s) Har, Kong, Matsumoto, Ward (MAHALO!!!!)
Excused: Representative(s) Matayoshi, McDermott, and Nakashima
The bill will now crossover to the Senate and the process will begin all over again. If you are interested in weighing in on this bill, please let me know.
Eva and Jim share with viewers about the HB 1697, the horrific sex education bill before the Hawaii legislature.
CLICK TO WATCH.
Originally aired on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Assisted Suicide Expansion Survives
On March 8, 2022, the two assisted suicide expansion bills easily passed both chambers. They have now "crossed over" and the process will begin again for both bills in the opposite chambers.
SB 2680: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
Ayes, 20;
Aye(s) with reservations,2: Senator(s) Kim, Misalucha.
Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Fevella, Gabbard, Riviere). (These are the same Senators who have consistently voted against it).
HB1823: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2
Ayes, 41;
Aye(s) with reservations, 1: Matsumoto voting aye with reservations;
Noes, 9; Representative(s) Eli, Har, Kitagawa, Kong, McDermott, McKelvey, Okimoto, Tokioka, Ward
FROM AROUND THE NATION
Hyde Amendment Back in Omnibus Spending Bill
While problematic aspects of the Omnibus bill are debated, there was one small spark of life...
On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, according to the Susan B. Anthony List, the U.S. House passed the omnibus spending bill that includes the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding policies that prevent taxpayer funding of abortion on demand. The Hyde amendment prohibits use of federal funds for abortions in most cases. The rider has been included in annual appropriations bills since it was introduced by then-Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) in the 1970s. The omnibus legislation will also include the Weldon amendment, a rider that bars entities that don't want to provide abortion care from being denied federal dollars. The 2,700-page legislation, now heads to the Senate where it is expected to pass.
According to reporting by the Hill "The GOP also took pride in touting their victory in the months-long battle to keep new partisan riders out of the omnibus while retaining legacy riders that benefit their party, like the Hyde amendment that bars federal funding for abortion in most cases."
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement saying they "are grateful that Congress has maintained long-standing, bipartisan, and lifesaving provisions including the Hyde, Helms and Weldon amendments that prevent our tax dollars from paying for the tragedy of abortion and protect people from having to participate in abortion against their consciences."