The Women’s Legislative Caucus of the Hawaii State Legislature will unveil their package of proposed bills for the 2011 session on Thursday, January 27, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., in Room 423 at the Hawaii State Capitol. The 15 bills and five resolutions are in the priority areas of crime, corrections, healthcare, domestic abuse, and political action. Descriptions of the proposals are listed below.
The package this year is dedicated to Dr. Tricia Wright, Founder of the Perinatal Addiction Treatment of Hawaii (PATH) program and clinic. Dr. Wright is an Assistant Professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health. PATH works with high-risk, pregnant women including those who have unintended pregnancies, those who smoke during pregnancy, and women who binge drink or are obese prior to pregnancy.
The members of the Women’s Legislative Caucus are:
Representatives: Karen Awana, Della Au Belatti, Rida Cabanilla, Mele Carroll, Corinne Ching, Cindy Evans, Faye Hanohano, Sharon Har, Linda Ichiyama, Georgette “Jo” Jordan, Marilyn Lee, Sylvia Luke, Barbara Marumoto, Daynette “Dee” Morikawa, Hermina Morita, Kymberly Pine, Cynthia Thielen, Jessica Wooley.
Senators: Rosalyn Baker, Suzanne Chun Oakland, Carol Fukunaga, Michelle Kidani, Donna Mercado Kim, Pohai Ryan, Maile Shimabukuro, Malama Solomon, Jill Tokuda.
BILLS (15)
RELATING TO CRIME
Sexual offenses against minors; statute of limitations: Eliminates the statue of limitations for civil actions brought by persons subjected to sexual offenses as a minor. (SEN. SHIMABUKURO)
RELATING TO LIMITATION OF ACTIONS
Parental responsibility and liability: Creates the misdemeanor offense of inadequate supervision of a minor for a parent or legal guardian who fails to exercise reasonable care, supervision, protection or control over their minor child. (SEN. SHIMABUKURO)
RELATING TO HEALTHCARE
Compassionate care: Emergency contraception in the ER. Requires hospitals and providers of emergency medical care to provide survivors of sexual assault with medically and factually accurate unbiased information regarding emergency contraception about sexual assault treatment options and access to emergency contraception. (REP. M. LEE, REP. MORITA)
RELATING TO CORRECTIONS
Pregnant inmates; prohibit shackling: Prohibits physically restraining pregnant inmates, unless extraordinary circumstances exist (i.e. prevention, escaping or injuring herself or others.) (REP. M. LEE)
RELATING TO AN AUTOMATED VICTIM NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
Requires department of public safety to establish a statewide automated victim notification system providing crime victims with current information regarding the offender's custodial status. (REP. M. LEE, REP. THIELEN)
RELATING TO SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION
Amends the sex offender registration law to include violation of privacy offenses, including voyeurism. Requires registration for offenders subject to sex offender registration or notification in their jurisdiction of conviction. Repeals obsolete or unnecessary provisions. Creates a tier classification for covered offenses that are not expressed classified. (REP. M. LEE)
PATH CLINIC APPROPRIATION
Appropriates moneys for the continued operation of the Perinatal Addiction Treatment of Hawaii program and clinic. (REP. M. LEE)
RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE ORDERS
Allows a temporary restraining order to remain in effect for 90 days or until service of a protective order, whichever occurs first. Also amends law to provide that protective orders orally stated by the court on the record shall be effective upon service on the respondent. (SEN. TOKUDA, SEN. KIDANI)
RELATING TO LUPUS
Requires the director of the health to establish a working group to develop a plan to increase education and awareness of lupus. (REP. MARUMOTO)
RELATING TO CRIME
Removes statute of limitations for prosecution of rape cases. (REP. MARUMOTO)
RELATING TO PROSTITUTION
Provides that the county may impound vehicles used in the commission of street prostitution in specified zones as established by the counties. (REP. MARUMOTO)
RELATING TO DNA COLLECTION FOR VIOLENT CRIMES
Requires DNA collection from those arrested on violent felony charges. While all states require DNA collection for felony convictions, most states have begun considering bills to require collection for felony arrests. (REP. MARUMOTO)
RELATING TO THE COLLECTION OF DNA SAMPLES FROM ARRESTEES OF SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST MINORS
Mandates the collection of DNA samples from arrestee for sex offenses against minors. Effective July 1, 2012. (REP. MARUMOTO)
RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS
Employment practices: domestic violence. Prohibits employers from discriminating against an employee or applicant for employment based upon the employee's or the applicant's status as a victim of domestic violence. (SEN. BAKER)
COMMUNITY BASED REINTEGRATION PROGRAM
Requires Department of Public Safety to develop a plan to use current funding resources to improve community based programs to assist female offender's transition back into the community. (REP. HANOHANO)
RESOLUTIONS (5)
DECLARING THE MONTH OF MAY AS LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH IN HAWAII
While lupus can occur in men, ninety percent of the sufferers are women in their childbearing years, particularly affecting Native Hawaiian women, Pacific Island women and women of Asian descent. People with lupus have many different symptoms, but the most common are fatigue, muscle and joint pain, skin disorders, inflammation of internal organs and inflammation of the vascular and nervous systems. (REP. MARUMOTO)
REQUESTING THE HAWAII MEDICAL BOARD, BOARD OF PSYCHOLOGY, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST PROGRAM, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL TO PRINT, DISPLAY, AND MAKE AVAILABLETO PATIENTS INFORMING THEM OF THE APPLICABLE ETHICAL STANDARDS RELATING TO SEXUAL BOUNDARIES IN THE PROVIDER-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
(REP. MARUMOTO)
ENCOURAGING THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND THE SCHOOL OF NURSING AND DENTAL HYGIENE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO INCLUDE BREASTFEEDING IN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM TO EDUCATE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO ADVOCATE AND PROMOTE BREASTFEEDING AMONG EXPECTANT MOTHERS
Human breast milk is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses, including diarrhea and pneumonia, which are the two primary causes of child mortality worldwide. (REP. THIELEN)
REQUESTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON WHETHER THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF HAWAII'S SEX OFFENDER LAWS ARE BEING MET AND WHETHER SEX OFFENDER LAWS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THE WAY THEY WERE INTENDED
In 1996, the federal government enacted what has become known as "Megan's Law," requiring states to collect and release relevant information necessary to protect the public from sexual offenders. (REP. THIELEN)
RECOGNIZING THE NEED TO REACH OUT TO HAWAII WOMEN AND ENGAGE THEM IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS
(Patsy Mink PAC) The legislature is requested to encourage women of Hawaii to actively play an important leadership role in planning and execution of legislative priorities. (REP. ICHIYAMA)
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