REP. YAMANE'S HUMAN SERVICES BILLS MOVING FORWARD AT STATE CAPITOL

Measures deal with bullying, mobile homeless facilities, LGBTQ commission

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Three important human services bills dealing with personal and sensitive subjects introduced this legislative session by Representative Ryan I. Yamane (Mililani, Waipio Gentry, Waikele) were assigned to be heard in House committee hearings this week.

"My commitment to tackling the issue of bullying has led me to discover that the two groups most frequently targeted in these acts are members of the homeless population and of the LGBTQ+ community," said Representative Yamane. "We have talked to students and community members who share our deep concerns of the impact of bullying on our children. I hope these measures will help ensure our children have a safe place to learn, play, and grow."

HB2038 establishes a 2-year mobile facilities pilot program for the Department of Human Services to purchase, staff, and operate mobile facilities on Department of Education property to provide services including laundry, showers, oral hygiene, and food for homeless children and their family members.

The bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Human Services & Homelessness and Lower & Higher Education committees at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 30 in room 309.

HB2483 is about bullying and requires all entities that provide educational or recreational activities to youths to establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures on bullying, harassment, and retaliation, and provide staff with appropriate annual training, regardless of whether the entity receives any government funding.

This bill will also be heard by House Human Services & Homelessness and Lower & Higher Education committees, but at 2:10 p.m. Thursday, January 30 in room 309.

HB2037 establishes the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Commission and the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Commission Trust Fund.

This bill was heard by the House Committee on Human Services & Homelessness on Wednesday, January 29.

"Far too often when people look at bullying it is only addressed after the fact but with these bills they look at how to try to stop bullying before it starts and address the causes," said Michael Golojuch, Jr., Chair of the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi. "They address the needs of Hawaiʻi's most vulnerable community the homeless to LGBTQIA+ community.  We at the LGBT Caucus are really appreciative of Representative Yamane's leadership in introducing these bills."

To see all bills introduced during the 30^th Legislature by Rep. Yamane as the first primary introducer, go to https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/advreports/advreport.aspx?report=intro&year=2020&leg=Yamane&rpt_type=first_pri