Here is the latest report on the activity of the Hawaii Catholic Conference and the Hawaii Family Forum at the state legislative this session. Both groups work together tracking and addressing issues of importance to the Catholic Church and family concerns.

Bill to fight Darfur genocide through divestment still alive

After some troubling preliminary signals, the House Finance Committee on Feb. 28 passed the Sudan divestment bill, which would require that the state employee retirement system remove funds from foreign companies that support the genocidal Sudanese government.

Civil union bill dies in house judiciary committee

House judiciary chairman Tommy Waters announced his decision to defer HB 908 after more than five hours of testimony on Feb. 27. His decision has caused an outcry with same-sex marriage proponents, who are demanding a vote. What has not been particularly public, however, is that proponents appeared to have only four of 16 votes on the committee, with one member absent.

This decision means that, effectively, the bill is dead for this year absent an extraordinary legislative procedural maneuver. It appears we have moved to an unfortunate new place where civil unions will be a regular off-election year issue for years to come, just like physician assisted suicide.

Planned Parenthood continues attack on abstinence program

For the fifth year in a row, Planned Parenthood is pushing a bill that would prevent Catholic Charities Hawaii successful federally funded abstinence education program from being eligible for state sexual health education funds. We managed to stop the bill in the House Judiciary Committee (HB 464), but the Senate version (SB 1117 SD1) is alive and well, and passed out of the Senate Health Committee Feb. 28. The senate bill will cross over to the house, where we will continue to oppose it.

‘No exceptions’ contraception bill moves forward

SB 1110 SD1, which would require all hospitals to dispense emergency contraception to sex assault victims, also passed out of the Senate Health Committee without an exemption for the Hawaii Medical Centers, which operate on land owned by St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii. The mandate comes despite the centers’ contractual arrangement with St. Francis to operate in accordance with the ethical and religious directives of St. Francis. Senate Health Committee members knew this and chose not to accommodate St. Francis’ concerns, opting instead to force the centers to dispense the drugs, which can operate as abortifacients. In announcing his decision, Health Committee Chair David Ige noted that Catholic hospitals on the mainland dispense these pills.

Affordable housing, homeless legislation progressing

HB 150 HD1, SB 1917 SD1 and SB 1450 SD1 are the primary legislative vehicles still alive addressing the crucial issues of affordable housing and homelessness. The common areas of focus for both the Lingle administration and the legislature include more money in the rental housing trust fund, additional funds for repair and maintenance, more emergency and transitional operations funds, and better incentives for affordable housing developers, including the streamlining of some current processes. These measures are works in progress with the final products to be worked out in conference committees at the end of session.

To read any of the bills listed, or to read the testimony submitted by the Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Catholic Conference, log onto our website at www.hawaiifamilyforum.org.