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Changing Hawaii

By Diane Yukihiro Chang

Monday, January 24, 2000

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What women
legislators want
in 2000

NOW that the firecracker smoke has finally cleared from New Year's Eve festivities, it means one thing: Hawaii's Legislature is officially in session.

Oh, boy. Which is worse: not being able to see through the haze of excessive fireworks, or not being able to see exactly what is happening at the state Capitol?

It's a toss-up, really. As we all know, those legislative folks need constant scrutiny, especially when they're vacillating, making deals and pushing bills that may become law.

But what issues do they specifically intend to pursue? What are they excited about as a group, as individuals?

In the case of the 17 female senators and representatives, the answers are clear. Earlier this month, the Women's Legislative Caucus came out with a definitive listing of the bills and resolutions that lady lawmakers will introduce this year.

Some of them are merely common sense; others are going to be controversial:

Fighting constant verbal abuse with force. A bill to allow a person to use force as a means of self defense against a family or household member when the person believes such force is necessary for self-protection, including a pattern of extreme psychological abuse.
Restricting parental discipline. A bill to restrict the way parents can discipline their keiki, in that moms and dads would NOT be allowed to strike the heads or necks of their children.
Requiring a living wage. A bill seeking to require employers who have contracts with local government to pay a "living wage" of not less than $7.25 an hour with health benefits (or $9.50 an hour without benefits) to their workers. "Employers who contract with the state or county should pay the wage needed to allow their employees to live without government assistance," says the caucus.
Protecting the elderly. A bill requiring criminal background checks for workers who provide services and have access to patients who reside in adult residential care homes and nursing facilities. (This law already applies to employees of child-care operations.)
Specialized training of paramedics. A bill to appropriate funds so that emergency medical technicians can receive specialized training to recognize and treat victims of domestic violence.
Protecting kids from abusers. A revision to the law that would require judges to make WRITTEN findings for their decisions when awarding minors to parents with a history of domestic abuse.

WHETHER one agrees with these ideas or not, give the Women's Legislative Caucus credit for 1) listening to groups including the Hawaii Women's Coalition, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sisters Offering Support, 2) being bold enough to set down its intentions on paper and 3) advocating for the often forgotten gender.

According to the caucus, "To commemorate the 80th anniversary of women's suffrage, we dedicate this package to these women, and the many others who improved the quality of life for Americans by organizing meetings, marches and protests, traveling coast-to-coast speaking, writing and listening; and suffering hostility and ridicule because they believed that equality is the birthright of every woman."

It was signed by all 17 members, namely Lei, Emily, Iris, Bertha K., Marilyn, Bertha L., Sylvia, Barbara, Colleen M., Hermina, Cynthia, Terry, Jan, Suzanne, Carol, Colleen H. and Lorraine. You go, girls.

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Legislature Directory
Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes

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Diane Yukihiro Chang's column runs Monday and Friday.
She can be reached by phone at 525-8607, via e-mail at
dchang@starbulletin.com, or by fax at 523-7863.