Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, October 24, 2013
Special Session: How to Testify
By News Release @ 4:10 PM :: 3587 Views

Special Session Update

Summary of Same-Sex Marriage Legislation - Senate Bill 1


What would this bill do?
  • Legalize same-sex marriage in Hawaii and give same-sex married couples the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of opposite-sex married couples, including parentage rights.
Whose religious liberties does this bill NOT exempt?
  • Religious organizations that make a profit by allowing the general public to use their facilities or grounds for marriage ceremonies (This bill does not attempt to explain what would be considered "profit.");
  • Small business owners who are asked to personally provide marriage-related services such as planning, food catering, photography, etc.;
  • Government employees who would be processing same-sex marriage applications; and
  • Judges who are asked to officiate at a same-sex marriage ceremony.
Who is exempted under this bill?
  • Religious solemnizers who are licensed by the State to perform marriage ceremonies, including clergy, ministers, priests and rabbis, among others; and
  • Religious organizations that do not 'profit' by allowing the general public to use its facilities or grounds for marriage ceremonies and those that merely accept donations from the public, provide religious services to the public, or otherwise allow the public to enter their premises.
Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson
Minority Leader
District 31: Moanalua, Foster Village, Aiea

Rep. Beth Fukumoto
Minority Floor Leader
District 36: Mililani, Mililani Mauka, Waipio Acres


Download a copy of this "How to Testify" printable flyer here!

 

How to testify on Senate Bill 1?
 

Where and when do I testify?
There are two public hearings scheduled that will allow you to testify twice. We recommend that you plan to testify in person.
  • Monday, October 28th at 10:30 am Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, Senator Clayton Hee (Chair); Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium (basement level)
  • Thursday, October 31st at 10:00 am House Joint Judiciary/Finance committees, Reps. Rhoads & Luke (Chairs); Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium (basement level)
How do I sign up to testify? 
In order to be called to testify, you should submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Testimony can be submitted via email, mail, fax or in person. Check the back page for contact information.
 
Tips for submitting effective testimony:
  • Your written testimony can be any length; however, short and to-the-point is more effective in general. You should always state your position at the top of the testimony along with your name.
  • Your verbal testimony will be limited to two minutes or less. It does not have to be the same as the written testimony and can just highlight important points.
  • Written testimony should be properly headed. See the “TESTIMONY HEADERS” box for sample headers for the Senate and House hearings.
  • Written testimony should include your name, address, and opposition.
  • All testimony is most effective when it is a personal and heartfelt message of how this will affect you, your family, and your community.
What can I expect at the committee hearing?
Once you submit written testimony, you should plan to attend the committee hearing. While there is no rule that governs the order of testimony, generally the first to testify are the Governor, State departments and other impacted organizations followed by individuals. Your name will be called when it is your turn. Be prepared to spend several hours waiting.

Contact Information to Submit Testimony
 

SENATE
Senator Clayton Hee, Chair
Judiciary and Labor Committee
VIA MAIL: Hawaii State Capitol, Room 407
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
VIA FAX: (808) 586-7334
VIA EMAIL: 
JDLtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
IN PERSON: Hawaii State Capitol, Room 407
 
HOUSE
Karl Rhoads, Chair
House Judiciary Committee
&
Sylvia Luke, Chair
House Finance Committee
VIA MAIL: Hawaii State Capitol, Room 302
415 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
VIA FAX: (808) 586-6189
VIA EMAIL: 
JUDSStestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
IN PERSON: Hawaii State Capitol, Room 302

Sample Openings for Written Testimony
 

For the Senate hearing: Hearing on 10/28 @ 10:30am (testimony due by email, fax or mail by 10/27 @ 10:30am)
 
Clayton Hee, Chair
Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor
 
Re: TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO SB 1 RELATING TO EQUALITY
 
Dear Honorable Chair Hee and Members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor:
 
(TESTIMONY)
 
For the House joint hearing: Hearing on 10/31 time TBA (testimony due by email, fax or mail by 10/30 time TBA)
 
Karl Rhoads, Chair                                              Sylvia Luke, Chair
House Judiciary Committee                            House Finance Committee
 
Re: TESTIMONY IN OPPOSITION TO SB 1 RELATING TO EQUALITY
 
Dear Honorable Chairs Rhoads and Luke and Members of the House Judiciary and Finance Committees:
 
(TESTIMONY)
Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii