The Women’s
Legislative Caucus, consisting of members from both the state Senate and House,
today announced a joint package of measures for the 2015 legislative session.
The package of bills
cover five areas of concern to women of all ages and economic background,
including improving reporting and enforcement of domestic violence and sexual
assaults, reducing violence and sexual assaults on college campuses, ensuring
women’s access to healthcare, addressing Hawaii’s high cost of living faced by
working families, and restoring public trust of Hawaii’s law enforcement
community.
“Domestic violence,
campus assaults, perceived unsympathetic law enforcement officials—all of these
issues remain ongoing concerns for women of all ages from all backgrounds,”
said Representative Della Au Belatti (Makiki, Tantalus, Papakolea, McCully,
Pawaa, Manoa). “Whenever we think we are making progress, reports like the
recent Star Advertiser article on the U.S. Department of Education’s
investigation of 55 college campuses across the nation punctures that
balloon.”
“It shows we need to
continue to press our case for better reporting and enforcement of domestic
violence and sexual assault on our schools campuses, for greater transparency
and accountability from our law enforcement entities, for better access to
health care for women, and for greater support for women who are often more
vulnerable to the high cost of living in Hawaii.”
“This year’s
caucus package represents the collaborative work of women legislators and the
Women’s Coalition, the community counterpart to the Women’s Legislative Caucus,” said Senator Rosalyn Baker (South and West
Maui). “These bills address some of the important societal issues facing
women and girls – security in home, workplace and community.
“In the package we also highlight our concern for women’s
health. Breast and cervical cancer still
goes undetected for too many women in Hawaii.
One of our bills will provide funding to expand screening and treatment
services to underserved, at-risk women.
These cancers can be successfully treated and cured, if found
early. This bill’s modest investment
will save suffering, healthcare costs and lives. Together, our package will help to create a
safer and healthier environment and contribute to a better quality of life for
Hawaii’s women and their families.”
“Our state has the highest cost of living in the nation and
we are in dire need of affordable housing,” added Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland
(Liliha, Palama, Iwilei, Kalihi, Nuuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Lower
Tantalus, Downtown). “A 2011 housing
study informed the state that we will be 50,000 housing units short by 2016. This creates a perfect storm for many
low-income earners, many of whom are women supporting their families, who are
trying to get by paycheck to paycheck and keep a roof over their heads.
Amending the income tax credit for low-income renters is one strategic
component that will put more money in their pockets to support their families.”
“Different decades
of women banding together can make a powerful sisterhood which will make our
communities, state and world a safer and better place,” said Representative
Cynthia Thielen (Kailua, Kaneohe Bay).
This year’s package
is dedicated to the Women’s Coalition in recognition of their commitment and
advocacy for women and girls.
The Women’s
Coalition, established in 1990 by former State Representative Annelle Amaral,
is a coalition of community organizations and volunteers from across the state
that raise awareness and advocate for important issues to women and
families. Through its own collaborative
processes, the Women’s Coalition assists the Caucus in creating its legislative
practice.
The Women's
Legislative Caucus is made up of all the female members of the state House and
Senate. Each year the caucus presents a
package of bills relevant to the well-being of women and families and supports
the bills throughout the legislative session. Belatti, Baker, Chun Oakland and
Thielen serve as co-chairs of the Caucus.
IMPROVING
REPORTING & ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & SEXUAL
ASSAULT
HB446/SB384,
relating to the Confidentiality Program, Confidentiality
Program Surcharge Fund and Confidentiality Program Grant Fund
Establishes
the Address Confidentiality Program to help survivors of domestic violence and
sexual assault relocate and keep their addresses confidential. Creates the Address Confidentiality Program
Surcharge Fund.
Removes
certain unnecessary and redundant reporting responsibilities of the family
courts and the Department of Human Services 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.
Requires
the Department of Health to conduct reviews of domestic violence fatalities,
near-deaths, and suicides. Requires the
DOH to enter into a memorandum of understanding to develop procedures for
obtaining information relating to near-deaths resulting from intimate partner
assaults. Requires reviews to commence
within one year following the death, near-death, or suicide. Requires information and recommendations from
the review process to be compiled for system reform efforts.
Amends
the continuing education requirement for psychologists to include at least
three credit hours of ethics training and at least two credit hours of domestic
violence training.
HB452/SB393,
relating to statewide sexual assault services, the Attorney
General, base budget and appropriations
Appropriates
funds to increase the base budget of the Department of the Attorney General for
statewide sexual assault services for fiscal biennium 2016-2017 to $2,380,000
per fiscal year. Beginning with the 2017-2018 fiscal year, requires the base
budget of the Department of the Attorney General for statewide sexual assault
services to be at least $2,380,000 per fiscal year.
REDUCING VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON
COLLEGE CAMPUSES
Requires
the University of Hawaii system to establish and enforce an affirmative consent
standard for all policies and protocols relating to sexual assault, domestic
violence, dating violence, and stalking as a condition of receiving state funds
for student assistance.
ENSURING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
HB455/SB385,
relating to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control
Program, the Department of Health and appropriations
Appropriates
funds to the Department of Health for the breast and cervical cancer control
program.
ADDRESSING HAWAII'S HIGH COST OF LIVING FOR
WORKING FAMILIES
Amends
income tax credit for low-income household renters to adjust for inflation. Applies to taxable years beginning after
12/31/2015.
RESTORING PUBLIC TRUST WITH TRANSPARENCY
& ACCOUNTABILITY OVER POLICE POLICIES & PROCEDURES
HB449/SB388,
relating to county police departments, domestic
violence policies and standards of conduct
Requires
each county police department to post its policies relating to domestic
violence, officer-involved domestic violence, and standards of conduct on its
official website.
HB450/SB389,
relating to police commissioners, county police commissions,
composition and requirements
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.
The public can
participate in legislative discussions and follow the progress of the bills by
logging onto the Capitol website at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/advreports/advreport.aspx?report=package&pkey=12&year=2015&name=Women%27s+Legislative+Caucus
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