Nurses provide care to a patient in 2015 at the palliative care unit of a hospital near Paris. The Hawaii state legislature passed a bill supporting a new state palliative care pilot program at the end of the 2019 legislative session. (CNS photo/Philippe Wojazer, Reuters)
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
The 30th Hawaii state legislature ended May 2. The biggest surprise was the failure of the bill that would permanently remove the window on the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse — HB 18 SD1. At the last hour, the bill ended up not leaving the conference committee. We understand that some in the house leadership felt the bill was a direct attack against the Catholic Church, so they did not move it out of committee. The bill could come back next session as legislators regroup after session to establish priorities for 2020.
Resolution
Unfortunately, SR 4, a senate resolution that asks the state attorney general to conduct an investigation into sexual abuse of minors in Hawaii by clergy of the Catholic Church, passed. Its counterpart, the concurrent resolution SCR8, which must go through both chambers, did not receive a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. So that resolution is dead for this session.
A resolution does not have the strength of a law, but it does showcase the will of the body that passes it. We want to make clear that the diocese, under the leadership of Bishop Larry Silva, is committed to ensuring the safety of every child in the diocese and will continue to do everything in its power to strengthen the great work being done by our Safe Environment office.
Marijuana
The marijuana decriminalization bill HB1383 CD1 passed overwhelmingly in the Senate, 22-3, and in the House, 35-16, and was sent to the governor on May 1. The final version decriminalizes the possession of three grams or less of marijuana and establishes that possession is a violation punishable by a fine of $130, increased in conference committee from $30.
Suicide
Suicide prevention and education was a win this session with three bills passing: HB330 SD1, which appropriates $150,000 for youth suicide early intervention, prevention, and education initiatives; HB 655 SD1, which designates September as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month; and SB 383 CD1, which requires Department of Education to establish a mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training program and model risk referral protocol, based on existing materials created by DOH, for all public schools, including charter schools. These bills are sitting on the desk of Gov. David Ige, who is expected to sign them.
Only one suicide bill we were tracking that would establish a Suicide Prevention Commission to develop a strategic plan to reduce suicides within Hawaii’s correctional system, SB 1416 HD1, died in committee when the House failed to appoint any committee members. I’m sure that bill will come back next session; the issue is a very important one and any death is tragic, especially suicide.
Palliative care
Another great win is SB 804 CD1, which establishes a culturally competent palliative care pilot program within the Department of Health to promote palliative care, gather health care utilization data, and conduct bidding for at least two pilot programs for home-based or community-based palliative care. It was passed unanimously by both chambers. In conference committee, the legislature designated $250,000 to ensure the success of the program. The bill was sent to the governor on May 6 and will most likely be signed.
Housing
The excellent work of Catholic Charities Hawaii was showcased by wins with increased funding to ensure funding for Kupuna Care, Grant In Aid for Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to create affordable rental housing units, the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program to continue ongoing monthly rental subsidies, Housing First, Rapid Rehousing, and a Kakaako and neighbor island Family Assessment Center.
Minimum wage
Finally, the bill that would have raised the minimum wage while providing a lower minimum wage rate for employees who receive employer-sponsored medical benefits under the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act, never made it out of the conference committee. The coalition to help pass the bill did a phenomenal job of bringing people together. The bill will most definitely be back next session.
Keep in mind that Hawaii is on a biennium legislature, so bills that are still technically alive this year can move right from where they left off when the session opens next year.
Eva Andrade is the director of the Hawaii Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Diocese of Honolulu.
