2016 CAUCUS PACKAGE

STATE OF HAWAII
WOMENS LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS
OVERVIEW
For over 20 years, the State of Hawaii Womens Legislative Caucus has been an advocate for the
diverse interests of women, children, and families throughout Hawaii. Caucus membership includes
all women members of the Hawaii State Legislature which now includes 22 state legislators - 14 State
Representatives and 8 State Senators.
Beginning in 2015 and formalized in 2016, the Caucus has extended invitations to the women members
of the four county councils to join state lawmakers in promoting legislation at the state and county
levels. Over the next year, the Caucus will identify opportunities and develop processes that encourage
greater collaboration among state and county lawmakers.
Each year, the Womens Legislative Caucus introduces an official package of bills and resolutions in
both the Senate and House of Representatives. Inclusion of measures in the package are based upon
approval by a majority of the Caucus members. This years proposed bills were approved by a
majority of Caucus members - 64-82% of members, while resolutions received significant support of
64-77% of all members.
In the spirit of broadening involvement and engagement within the Caucus, co-conveners were elected
in 2016 with new co-conveners Senator Laura Thielen and Representative Lauren Matsumoto joining
returning co-conveners Senator Rosalyn H. Baker and Representative Della Au Belatti returning as coconveners. Moving forward, co-conveners of the Caucus will be elected every two years.

January 8, 2016 (State Capitol, Governors Chambers): Co-conveners

Representative Della Au Belatti and Lauren Matsumoto, and Senator
Laura Thielen join Governor David Ige and advocates in celebrating
and proclaiming January 2016 as Human Trafficking Awareness
Month.

2016 CAUCUS PACKAGE DEDICATION

Annelle Amaral, Barbara Marumoto, & Jackie Young, Ph.D.
The Womens Legislative Caucus of Hawaii is proud to dedicate this years Caucus Package to three
former Caucus members: Annelle Amaral, Barbara Marumoto, and Jackie Young, Ph.D.
Between 1988 to 1996, Annelle Amaral served in the State House of Representatives rising to the position of Majority Floor Leader. In 1990, Annelle cofounded the Womens Coalition, the community counterpart to the Caucus that
has developed into a robust, supportive, and collaborative network of leaders
and community groups who continue to advocate for the women and children.

Beyond the Legislature, Annelle has distinguished herself as a true public servant, serving in numerous leadership positions such as President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and an appointed member to Hawaiis Parole
Board. Today, Annelle also continues to work as Principal for Annelle Amaral
Consulting, a small business providing professional facilitation services for
complex and often controversial issues that Hawaii continues to grapple with.
Barbara Marumoto ser ved as a member of the Hawaii House of Repr esentatives for 34 years, rising to the position of Minority Policy Leader in
2011 and 2012. Prior to her election in 1978, Barbara served as a delegate to
the 1978 Constitutional Convention or the Peoples Con Con.
A staunch advocate for women, children and safety, Barbara was the major
force behind bills to prohibit children under the age of 13 from riding in pickup truck beds and tax credits to purchase keiki car seats that save lives.
Barbara has won numerous community awards including the National Republican Legislators Association Legislator of the Year Award, Hawaii Women
Lawyers Presidents Award, and the Organization of Women Leaders Outstanding Women Leaders Award.
Jackie Young Ph.D. ser ved in the House of Repr esentatives between 1990
through 1994, becoming the first female Vice-Speaker in the House. During
her tenure at the Legislature, Jackie was a productive member of the Caucus
that passed over 30 bills that focused on preventing crimes against women.

Between 1999 to 2013, Jackie assisted in expanding care for cancer patients
throughout Hawaii and the Pacific region as Chief Staff Officer of the American Cancer Society Hawaii Pacific.
Jackie has received numerous accolades for her work in promoting gender
equity and civil rights. These awards include the 1994 YWCA of Oahu Outstanding Woman Leader Award, the 1998 Hawaii Women Lawyers Distinguished Service Award, and the 2014 Punahou School Judd Award for Humanitarian Service.

2016 WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS PACKAGE

ENSURING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
HB1895/SB2319: Relating to insurance, prescription contraceptives and contraceptive services
Requires insurers to cover a three-month period for the first dispensing of prescription contraceptive
supplies to the insured. Requires insurers cover a twelve-month period for the subsequent dispensing
of the same contraceptive supply to the insured.

HB1896/SB2320:Relating to contraceptive supplies, pharmacists, and health insurance

Authorizes pharmacists to prescribe and dispense contraceptive supplies to persons eighteen years of
age or older. Specifies requirements pharmacists must meet prior to prescribing and dispensing
contraceptive supplies. Requires all insurers in the State, including health benefits plan under chapter
87A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and Medicaid managed care programs, to reimburse pharmacists who
prescribe and dispense contraceptive supplies.

HB1897/SB2323: Relating to insurance coverage of health screenings and sexually transmitted

diseases
Ensures insurance coverage for sexually transmitted disease screenings, including screenings for
human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, during a female insured's
annual pelvic exam.

HB1898/SB2317: Relating to Maternal Mortality Review Panel, and the Department of Health
Establishes the Hawaii maternal mortality review panel within the department of health to conduct a
comprehensive review of maternal deaths that have occurred in the State. Makes an appropriation.

HB1899/SB2326: Relating to licensure of certified professional midwives

Establishes licensure requirements for the practice of midwifery. Requires the Director of Commerce
and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules regulating the practices of midwifery.

2016 WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS PACKAGE

ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN &
ENSURING GENDER EQUITY
HB1900/SB2318: Relating to address confidentiality program, domestic violence, sexual offense and
stalking
Establishes the address confidentiality program to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and
stalking to relocate and keep their addresses confidential. Appropriates funds.

HB1901/SB2321: Relating to domestic violence intervention training of first responders

Requires any state or county agency who employs personnel whose job duties require or may require
intervention in a domestic violence situation to provide such employees with a minimum of fifteen hours of
domestic violence intervention training.

HB1902/SB2322: Relating to sex trafficking

Replaces the offense of Promoting Prostitution in the First Degree with Sex Trafficking to be classified as a
violent crime. Makes Sex Trafficking a class A felony and a strict liability offense if a minor is the victim of
sex trafficking. Provides that the offense of prostitution for a person younger than eighteen years of age is a
violation. Expands the Department of the Attorney General's Statewide Witness Program to include sex
trafficking; provides victims with access to criminal injury compensation; and amends laws relating to civil
liability for cases of coercion into prostitution. Makes amendments to strengthen enforcement of laws and
increase penalties against the sex trafficker.

HB1903/SB2325: Relating to establishing law enforcement standards boards

Establishes a law enforcement standards board for the certification of county police officers, state public
safety officers, and employees of the departments of transportation and land and natural resources with
police powers. Establishes a special fund. Appropriates funds.

HB1904/SB2324: Relating to the composition of the county police commissions

Amends the composition of the county police commissions to require that there are commissioners on each
police commission that have experience or backgrounds in womens issues, civil rights, and law
enforcement.

ADDITIONAL BILLS IN THE CAUCUS PACKAGE

HB1905/SB2310: Relating to Domestic Abuse Protective Orders
Prohibits the court from granting mutual protective orders unless separate petitions are filed.

HB1906/SB2311: Relating to Domestic Violence

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.

HB1907/SB2309: Relating to Sexual Assault

Establishes the sexual assault kit tracking program. Requires a law enforcement agency to submit sexual
assault kits obtained in connection to a criminal investigation to an authorized laboratory within 10 days,
the laboratory to complete analysis within 6 months, and results to be uploaded to the state DNA database
and data bank identification program and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Combined DNA Index
System. Requires each law enforcement agency that obtains a sexual assault kit in connection to a criminal
investigation to report to the department of the attorney general annually on the number of sexual assault
kits in its possession. Requires the police department of each county, the department of public safety, and
the division of conservation and resources enforcement to submit a report to the legislature prior to the
convening of the regular session 2017 on the number of kits in its possession and progress on any backlog.
Requires the legislative reports to be made available to the public.
HB1908/SB2312: Relating to the Penal Code
Redefines sexual conduct as that term is used in the offense of promotion of child abuse in the first,
second, and third degrees, and aligns this language with federal criminal statutes.

HB1909/SB2313: Relating to Equal Pay

Amends the provisions for equal pay and sex discrimination for substantially similar work. Clarifies the
employer defenses. Prohibits employer action regarding wage disclosure.

CAUCUS PACKAGE RESOLUTIONS

(To Be Introduced)
EXPANDING COMMUNITY-BASED WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAMS FOR FEMALE
OFFENDERS
Encourages the Department of Public Safety to continue and expand its community-based work furlough programs to assist in transitioning formerly incarcerated female inmates back into society.

CREATING PAID FAMILY LEAVE TASK FORCE

Creating a task force to examine the costs, benefits, and challenges of instituting a paid family leave system in
the state.

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO AFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO

TITLE IX
Requests a report from the Department of Education regarding its compliance with the requirements of Title
IX, including the status of its Title IX policies, procedures, staffing and statistics to the Legislature not later
than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017.

URGING U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (USCIS) TO RESTART BASIC

IMMIGRATION SERVICES VIA MOBILE ROUTE TO NEIGHBOR ISLANDS Applicants with
immigration applications adjudicated by USCIS must travel to Honolulu for fingerprinting and interviews,
which presents a substantial barrier to the immigration process for non-Oahu residents. Women are
disproportionally impacted because one out of five women on neighbor islands are foreign-born, as compared
to 14.9% of men.

AFFIRMING THE STATE OF HAWAI'I'S SUPPORT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Recognizes and affirms the State of Hawaiis gratitude to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and
Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands for providing vital health care services
to women and families statewide.

2016 Easter Basket Donation Drive

Developing legislation is only one part of the work of the Womens Legislative Caucus. A tradition
continues in 2016 with the Women's Legislative Caucus Easter Basket Donation Drive. In 2015, this
donation drive surprised and delighted people receiving services from the Institute for Human Services by
providing over 200 Easter baskets through generous donations from legislators, staff members, and the
public-at-large.

April 2015 (State Capitol, Basement): The Easter Bunny (Representative Feki Pouha) and members of the
House of Representatives (Matt Lopresti, Lauren Matsumoto, Linda Ichiyama, Della Au Belatti, Cynthia
Thielen, Lynn DeCoite, and John Mizuno) enjoyed time together in April 2015 as they loaded Easter
Baskets for the Institute for Human Services.

This years donation drive will begin on March 7, 2016 with the offices of Representative Matsumoto and
Senator Baker coordinating the collection effort from Rooms 303 and 230, respectively. The purpose of this
event is to enrich the lives of those in need. Donations of basic necessities or Easter-related items are sought.
Recommended items include pots and pans, non-perishable food items, toiletries and feminine hygiene
supplies, first aid supplies, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and cleaning products. Your donations will
help make this event a success and bring smiles to many faces.

To stay up to date about the Womens Legislative Caucus Easter donation drive
and all the other activities of the Caucus, please visit the Caucus Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiWomensLegislativeCaucus/

Womens Legislative Caucus Film Series

The Women's Legislative Caucus 2016 is excited to sponsor a series of films this year that explore the current
interests and issues being examined by the Caucus. The first film in the series Someone You Love: The HPV
Epidemic was screened January 26, 2016 in the State Capitol Auditorium, in collaboration with the Immunization
Coalition. Each year approximately 6 million people are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Several
types of cancer, including cervical cancer can be caused by HPV. In the United States 12,000 women are
diagnosed each year with cervical cancer. Approximately 4,000 of these women are expected to die from it. This
year members of the Women's Legislative Caucus are working to ensure the youth of Hawaiigirls and boys
receive at least one dose of the HPV vaccine prior to attending the seventh grade. For more information about
these measures, please visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov and track HB1910 and SB2316.
The second film in the Women's Legislative Caucus series will dive into issues relating to sexual assault on
college campuses with, The Hunting Ground on February 25, 2016, beginning at 3:00 pm in the State Capitol
Auditorium. This film will be shown in partnership with the State Commission on the Status of Women, the Sex
Abuse Treatment Center, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa Affirmative Consent Task Force. Sexual
assaults are said to affect one in five women in college with few of these assaults reported to authorities. Last year
the Women's Legislative Caucus introduced HB1359 and SB1333 with the intent of increasing understanding as
well as preventing sexual violence on Hawaiis college campuses.

The third film in the series has not yet been determined but the Caucus would like to screen a film that
explores women and leadership, and how we as a society may encourage young girls to become engaged
and involved in leadership positions in various sectors including business, technology, education, and
politics. Screening of this film is planned for late May. The Caucus welcomes your input in identifying the
final film for the Series. Please forward your suggestions to belatti3@capitol.hawaii.gov or leave a message
on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiWomensLegislativeCaucus/.

State of Hawaii
Womens Legislative Caucus

House of Representatives

Della Au Belatti
Co-convener
District 24

Lynn DeCoite
District 13

Cindy Evans
District 7

Beth Fukumoto Chang

District 36

Sharon E. Har
District 42

Linda Ichiyama
District 32

Jo Jordan
District 44

Nicole E. Lowen
District 6

Sylvia Luke
District 25

State
State of
of Hawaii
Hawaii
Womens
Womens Legislative
Legislative Caucus
Caucus

House
House of
of Representatives
Representatives

Lauren Kealohilani Matsumoto

Co-convener
District 45

Cynthia Thielen
District 50

Dee Morikawa
District 16

Andria P.L. Tupola

District 43

Joy A. San Buenaventura

District 4

State of Hawaii

Womens Legislative Caucus

Senate

Rosalyn H. Baker
Co-convener
District 6

Suzanne Chun Oakland

District 13

Michelle N. Kidani
District 18

Donna Mercado Kim

District 14

Laura H. Thielen
Co-convener
District 25

Jill N. Tokuda
District 24

Lorraine R. Inouye
District 4

Maile S.L. Shimabukuro

District 21