HFF OPPOSES THIS BILL. Testimony forthcoming.

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES

HB 189 HD2 SD2:  Requires hospitals to provide information on emergency contraception to sexual assault victims and provide emergency contraception when requested; requires training on sexual assault and emergency contraceptives to those who treat survivors; provides for enforcement and penalties. This bill does NOT contain a religious exemption, which in fact, forces St. Francis Healthcare Systems of Hawaii to provide abortifient drugs to victims of rape. Note that St. Francis does not have an OB/GYN clinic.

Current Status:  The bill is dead this session. 

Click here for an (04/23/04) article from the Hawaii Catholic Herald. 

Click here for an (04/27/04) article from the Honolulu Advertiser.

April 1, 2004

HFF SUPPORTS THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION BUT TAKES NO OFFICIAL POSITION ON THE BILL

HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

HB 537 HD1 SD1 : Adds sexual orientation as a protected status for laws prohibiting discrimination in housing. Creates an additional exemption to discrimination in housing law. Adds sexual orientation and familial status as protected statuses in anti-blockbusting law.

Current Status:  The bill is dead this session because committee members never met to agree on amendments.

Click here for April 7, 2004 Honolulu Advertiser article

4 March 2004

HFF Testimony

Sandra Young, Esq

HFF STRONGLY OPPOSES

PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE

HB 862 HD1 Relating to Death with Dignity (Physician-Assisted Suicide)

Allows a terminally ill, competent adult to get lethal dose of medication to end life. Prohibits mercy killings, lethal injections, and active euthanasia. Requires informed consent. Allows alternate doctor to replace attending doctor if latter declines to prescribe. Requires monitor at time of taking dose.

Current Status:  Measure is DEAD this session.

HFF TESTIMONY:

18 March 2004

SB 2842 SD1

1 March 2004

SB 2842

HFF TESTIMONY:

1 March 2004

SB 2843

18 March 2004

SB 2843 SD1

5 April 2004

SB2843 SD1 JUD

12 April 2004

ALERT on Megan's Law

CHILD PORNOGRAPHERS TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS

SB2842 SD1 HD4 The current version requires persons convicted of crimes involving child pornography to register as sex offenders. Makes other amendments to the sex offender registry statute. Establishes a task force to study public access to sex offender registration. (SB2842 HD4)

Current Status:  Governor Lingle signed the measure into law on May 10, 2004. Act 059. HFF staff member, Eva Andrade, was present at the ceremony in the Governor's office.

MEGAN'S LAW

SB 2843 SD1 HD2  (the Megan's Amendment) would allow parents access to the list of registered sex offenders in their neighborhoods. Once this measure is passed, a constitutional Amendment would be required due to the Hawaii Supreme Court's decision in 2001 holding that such access violates the privacy of the convicted sex offender.

Current Status: PASSED BY LEGISLATURE. IT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, 2004.

(Click here for an article dated April 28, 2004 from the Honolulu Advertiser on this issue.)

( Click here for an article dated April 16, 2004 from the Honolulu Advertiser on this issue.)

( Click here for an article dated April 14, 2004 from the Honolulu Advertiser on this issue.)

( Click here for an article dated April 7, 2004 from the Honolulu Advertiser on the issue.)

12 February 2004

March 23, 2004

April 1, 2004

HFF Testimony

HFF SUPPORTS

PAIN PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS

HB 1839 HD2 SD2: Gives rights to pain patients; authorizes prescribing medically necessary controlled substance to treat severe acute or severe chronic pain; allows refusal to prescribe but allows referral of patient to doctors who use opiates for pain management; authorizes board of medical examiners to establish pain management guidelines. (SD2)

Current Status:  Transmitted to the Governor for signature on April 30, 2004.

18 February 2004

HFF Testimony

S. Young, Esq. Testimony

HFF OPPOSES

CIVIL UNIONS

(HB 1024) Establishes civil unions. Allows two persons who live together, consider themselves to be members of each other's immediate family, agree to be jointly responsible for each other's basic living expenses, not married, not related by blood, and at least eighteen years of age, to file a declaration of civil union with the director of health. Extends same rights and obligations as spouses in a marital relationship to civil union partners. Prohibits discrimination because of civil union partnership status. Repeals reciprocal beneficiary law.

Current Status : Measure is DEAD this session.

On February 19, 2004, the House Judiciary committee recommends that the measure be deferred. There was no quorum to vote on the measure.