CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND SAFETY, ACCESS TO
HEALTHCARE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FOCUS OF WOMEN’S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS IN
2017
Women’s marches in Hawaii and around the world
show solidarity for women’s rights
Honolulu, Hawaii — The
health and safety of children, access to healthcare, and protecting women from
violence is the focus of a House-Senate joint package of bills submitted this
session by the Women’s Legislative Caucus.
The caucus consists of women members from the state Senate and House and
county councils.
Members of the Women’s Legislative Caucus seek
to promote sound legislation that represent the diverse interests of women
across the state and improve the well-being of women, children and families.
“I want all women in Hawaii to know that they
have rights and that those rights will be protected under the law,” said
Representative Della Au Belatti (Makiki, Tantalus, Papakolea, McCully, Pawaa,
Manoa). “I was proud to take part in the Women’s March in Honolulu to show that
we stand together and will be heard.”
“By coming together as the Women’s Legislative
Caucus, we’re able to focus on measures that make positive changes in our
communities,” said Senator Rosalyn Baker (South and West Maui). “When we create
equal access to healthcare and opportunities for the women and children of
Hawaii, we create healthier and safer communities for everyone.”
“This package of bills covers two main areas
that continue to be important to all women in the State of Hawaii including
access to health care and decreasing violence against women,” said
Representative Lauren Matsumoto (Schofield, Mokuleia, Waialua, Kunia, Waipio
Acres, Mililani). “We continue to propose legislation that will protect and
make life better for women.”
Many of the issues addressed within the caucus
package reflect the concerns of women nationwide. Several state legislators
joined in the Women’s March held in cities across Hawaii, the nation and around
the world, in support of gender equality and civil.
“It was empowering and gratifying to be a part
of the historic Women’s March in Washington D.C.,” said Senator Laura Thielen (Waimanalo,
Hawaii Kai). “The work we do at the state level to ensure that women’s rights are
not diminished will be an important step in taking action on the message of
unity and solidarity demonstrated over the weekend.”
The House and Senate bills submitted by the
Women’s Legislative Caucus for the 2017 session include:
ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE
HB663/SB501
Relating to Limited Service Pregnancy Centers
Requires all limited service
pregnancy centers to disclose the availability of and enrollment information
for reproductive health services. Establishes privacy and disclosure
requirements for individual records and information. Authorizes civil penalties
and civil actions for enforcement and remedy.
HB664/SB502
Relating to In Vitro Fertilization Insurance Coverage
Removes discriminatory
requirements for mandatory insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization
procedures to create parity of coverage for same-sex couples, unmarried women,
and male-female couples for whom male infertility is the relevant factor.
HB665/SB503
Relating to Health Insurance for Victims of Sexual
Violence
Requires health insurance coverage
for case management services by licensed mental health providers for victims of
sexual violence.
Limits initial prescriptions for
opioids and benzodiazepines to a maximum of seven consecutive days.
HB667/SB505 Relating to Opioid Therapy Informed Consent Process
Requires an opioid therapy
informed consent process agreement to be executed between a patient and any
prescriber of opioids within the State under certain conditions. Requires the
administrator of the narcotics enforcement division to develop and make
available a template of an opioid therapy informed consent process agreement for
use in the State. Specifies the contents of the template. Limits initial
prescriptions for opioids and benzodiazepines to a maximum of seven consecutive
days.
ADDRESSING AND REDUCING VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
HB668/SB506 Relating to Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits
Requires annual reporting to the
legislature by the AG of statistical data pertaining to the testing of sexual
assault evidence collection kits. Provides certain rights to sexual assault
survivors. Institutes mandatory testing requirements in accordance with AG
guidelines. Requires AG to report to 2018 legislature on the progress of
implementing AG guidelines.
Removes redundant investigating
and reporting requirements of the Department of Human Services and the family
courts in cases where temporary restraining orders are sought for alleged
domestic abuse involving a family or household member who is a minor or
incapacitated person.
Creates the Hawaii Working Family
Tax Credit, a refundable credit capped at 10 percent of the federal earned
income tax credit.
Prohibits enforced wage secrecy
and retaliation or discrimination against employees who disclose, discuss, or
inquire about their own or co-workers' wages.
CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND SAFETY
HB672/SB510 Relating to Hawaii Keiki: Healthy and Ready to Learn Program
Formally establishes the Hawaii
keiki: healthy and ready to learn program within the department of education.
Establishes a special fund and appropriates $4,000,000 to expand and sustain
the program.
Requires DHS to publish reports of
child care facility inspections and complaint investigations on DHS's website.
Creates an oversight committee for implementation of and compliance with
publication requirements. Requires annual reporting to the Legislature. Makes
an appropriation.
Requires all child care providers
subject to regulation by the Department of Human Services to obtain and
maintain liability insurance as a condition of licensure, temporary permission,
or registration.
OTHER
Authorizes pharmacists to
prescribe and dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptive supplies to
patients, regardless of a previous prescription from an authorized prescriber.
Specifies requirements pharmacists must meet prior to prescribing and
dispensing contraceptive supplies.
HB676/SB514
Relating to Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
Authorizes pharmacists to
prescribe and administer the human papillomavirus vaccine to persons between
eleven and seventeen years of age. Specifies requirements pharmacists must meet
prior to administering the human papillomavirus vaccine.
HB677/SB515
Relating to In Vitro Fertilization Procedure Coverage
Amends insurance coverage
requirements for in vitro fertilization to allow for expanded applicability.
HB678/SB516 Relating to Family Leave and Domestic Violence
Allows an employee to take family
leave in addition to victim leave when the leave is related to domestic or
sexual violence against the employee or the employee's minor child. Requires an
employee to submit certification related to domestic or sexual violence of the
employee or the employee's minor child. Requires employer confidentiality of
information related to domestic or sexual violence against the employee or the
employee's minor child.
HB679/SB517 Relating to Domestic Violence Training for State and County
Employees
Requires any state or county
agency to provide domestic abuse intervention training to their personnel whose
job duties require or may require intervention in a domestic abuse situation.
Requires licensees under the board
of barbering and cosmetology to complete a one-time, one-hour training program
on intimate partner violence awareness and education.
HB681/SB519 Relating to Officer-involved Domestic Violence
Specifies that citizen complaints
against a police officer that involve allegations of domestic abuse against a
family or household member on the part of the police officer shall not be
required to be in writing or sworn to by the complainant.
Amends the composition of the
county police commissions to require that three commissioners on each police
commission have backgrounds, including equality for women, civil rights, and
law enforcement, for the benefit of the public.
Establishes a 6-week paid
maternity and paternity leave policy for government employees to ensure that
Hawaii's working families are adequately supported during times of needing to
provide care to a newborn or bond with a new child.
Strengthens the safe sleep policy
for child care facilities for children less than one year of age, including
requiring placement of children on their backs for sleeping and establishing
notice and annual training requirements; requires such facilities to report
death of such a child to DHS.
HB685/SB523 Relating to Civil Actions for Sexual Offenses Against Minors
Allows a civil action for recovery
of damages to be brought by persons subjected to sexual offenses as a minor
against the person who committed the act at any time by repealing the statute
of limitations. Repeals the period during which a victim of child sexual abuse
may bring an otherwise time-barred civil action against the victim's abuser or
an entity with a duty of care, including the State and counties.
For more information, please contact:
Senate
Senator
Rosalyn Baker 808-586-6070
Senator
Suzanne Laura Thielen 808-587-8388
House of Representatives
Representative
Della Au Belatti 808-586-9425
Representative
Lauren Matsumoto 808-586-9490
