The 2008 Hawaii state legislature convened on Jan. 16 and committee hearings on legislative proposals are underway. Every year, several thousand proposals are introduced for consideration and this year — the second year of the two-year legislative cycle — was no exception. Bills “left over” from last year are fair game for reconsideration this year.

Though things at the legislature can change overnight, there appears to be some good news as we start the session. Thus far, there appears to be no desire for legislators to tackle the hot button social issues of physician assisted suicide or civil unions that have heated up previous sessions.

2008 is an election year and lawmakers generally try to avoid such controversies in election years. While we’re prepared for everything, we’re hoping for a year’s respite from these thorny issues.

There are many other issues of interest to the Hawaii Catholic Conference and its public policy partner Hawaii Family Forum. Here’s what we’ve done so far on some key proposals:

Emergency contraceptives

For the sixth year in a row, Hawaii Planned Parenthood and its allies are putting on a full court press to pass HB 466 HD1, which would require all hospital emergency rooms to dispense “emergency contraceptives” to victims of sexual assault. Because these drugs may cause very early abortions they are strictly prohibited under Catholic health care principles.

Regrettably, HB 466 HD1 has no exemption for religiously-affiliated hospitals such as the Hawaii Medical Centers, which have a contract with St. Francis Healthcare System to operate in accordance with Catholic health care directives. St. Francis owns the land upon which the hospitals operate.

The bill passed the house health committee last session (2006) and carried over to this session. We testified at the house judiciary hearing on Jan. 25. While many lawmakers expressed a willingness to include an exemption, the bill was nevertheless passed without one. At this writing, the house finance committee had not yet had a hearing on the legislation.

Ask your legislators to oppose HB 466 HD 1 unless it contains an exemption for religiously-affiliated hospitals with ethical objections. Log on to www.hawaiifamilyforum.org to find out who your legislators are and to receive the most recent information on this and other issues. Please, let your voice be heard.

Justice for unborn babies

No one in Hawaii will soon forget the tragic case of the Big Island woman who was brutally assaulted last summer. Her 14-year-old son was killed trying to protect her and her nearly full-term unborn child was also killed. She survived the attack but Hawaii law provides no justice for the taking of the life of her unborn child.

Under current Hawaii law, a person who intentionally harms an unborn child — at any stage of development — faces no accountability whatsoever for that conduct. Hawaii law offers more protection for animals than it does for unborn children.

Previous efforts to correct this injustice have been stopped cold by abortion-right supporters and their allies in the legislature. Proposals would treat the unborn child as he or she should be treated — as a separate human person under the criminal code. Unfortunately, that preferred approach won’t be passed in this legislature.

A more modest proposal, however, appears likely to pass — especially if we let our voices be heard!

HB 2334 establishes mandatory prison time for those who kill or inflict serious bodily injury to a pregnant woman. The bill adds pregnant women to the list of crime victims for whom “enhanced penalties” for the perpetrator are appropriate because the vulnerability of the victim. Others in the category include children younger than eight, the elderly, and blind or seriously disabled persons.

But even this modest step has been opposed by some women’s groups.

The bill was passed from the House Committee on Human Services and Housing and the House Committee on Health on Jan. 30 and is now headed to the House Judiciary Committee. Encourage your legislators to support HB 2334.

Other priorities

Affordable housing, the homeless crisis and domestic violence are among our other top priorities this legislative session. I will address these proposals and more in the next Capitol Corner.

To stay current on all Hawaii Catholic Conference/Hawaii Family Forum legislative issues, please visit our website at www.hawaiifamilyforum.org.