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The state Senate Consumer Protection Committee has scheduled a series of statewide public hearings on the medical records privacy law to take effect July 1. Medical privacy hearings
start tomorrowThe Privacy of Health Care Information Act was to go into effect July 2000, but legislators approved a one-year extension of the effective date in response to people's concerns on the impact of the legislation.
Legislators felt that a year's extension would allow the parties involved to recommend further improvements to the new law and to comply with its requirements prior to the law taking effect, said committee Chairman Ron Menor, (D, Waipahu-Mililani).
Also recent changes in federal law could affect the state law, he said.
"We have to look at current and proposed federal actions to determine whether there is any duplication or conflict between state law and federal requirements."
Menor also said he would like to hear from the medical privacy task force, which was instrumental in the legislation's passage, as well as from residents who will be affected by the law.
The hearings will be held jointly with the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. The first hearing will be held on Oahu tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Room 225 of the state Capitol. The Senate committees will then travel to the neighbor islands the following week.
Neighbor island hearings are scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. next week on the following days:
Persons wanting to testify need to provide 15 copies of their testimony. For additional information, contact the committee clerk at 586-6740.Monday : Kauai County Council chambers, Lihue
Fresh Start Inc. recently received a $10,000 grant from the G.N. Wilcox Trust to support its women's program. Fresh Start receives grant
The program will focus on drug abuse prevention and living skills," said Steve Miyahira of Fresh Start.
Fresh Start is a private, nonprofit organization that helps recovering alcoholics, drug addicts, ex-offenders and the mentally ill stay sober. The organization teaches its clients educational and living skills, such as anger-management and vocational training, within a safe, supportive environment.
"The goal is to transition these people back into society and ultimately have them find a job," Miyahira said.
Grease that can clog city sewer lines is the target of public informational meetings at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Park. Meetings to focus
on grease disposalBusinesspeople involved with food preparation are encouraged to attend. The city Department of Environmental Services meetings also are recommended to property managers and owners, consultants, plumbers, restaurateurs and others affiliated with food preparation.
Businesses now are required to have a Grease Interceptor Compliance Program if their activities generate fats, oil or grease.
The process will be explained and questions will be answered.
Interested businesses are asked to call Kenny Drummond of the regulatory control branch at 523-4951 or register by emailing kdrummond@co.honolulu.hi.us with the number of people to attend the morning or afternoon meeting.
Whale Foundation opening center in Maui
The Pacific Whale Foundation is opening a Marine Resource Center and Store tomorrow near Maui Ocean Center in Maalaea Harbor Village near Kihei.It plans to keep data on where humpback whales are sighted and other facts of marine life. It will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
"All profits from our Marine Resource Center and Store will go toward saving whales and the marine environment," said June Friewald, retail manager.
Hawaii State Bar installs new officers
David Louie has been sworn in as president of the Hawaii State Bar Association.Other new officers of the 6,700-member organization are: Michael Gibson, vice president; Jeffrey Sia, secretary; and Andrew Winer, treasurer.
Russ Awakuni was elected president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Hawaii State Bar Association.
Other new officers are: Jodi Kimura, vice president; Kristie Cruz, secretary, and Kevin Katsura, treasurer.
March for Equality set for King's birthday
The Civil Unions-Civil Rights Movement will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 in the state Capitol auditorium. The next day, it will start a seven-day, 132-mile, protest March for Equality around Oahu.The march will start at 6 a.m. at the Gandhi statue near the entrance to Honolulu Zoo. It will end at 3 p.m. Jan. 22 at Mililani Mall Park on Queen Street at the state attorney general's office.
State history group to present awards
Groups and individuals who work to preserve and interpret local history may qualify for annual awards presented by the American Association for State and Local History.March 1 is the deadline for nominations.
Application forms and information are available from Joan Hori at the University of Hawaii's Hamilton Library, 956-9296, and Marie Strazar at the state Foundation on Culture and the Arts, 586-0771.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest
Corrections
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
2 mechanics held up near LCC, police say
Two on-call mechanics were held up at gunpoint when they were called out to fix a car on a dirt road near Leeward Community College yesterday, police said.The victims, in their 40s, were directed to a dirt road on 96-029 Waiawa Road, by a local man on a bicycle at about 2:45 p.m., police said. They were confronted by two other men in their 20s and were allegedly held up at gunpoint by the man on the bicycle.
One of the victims was allegedly punched in the face. Police said the victims ran away without giving the suspects any money.
Two suspects left the scene in the mechanics' truck, which was later recovered a mile down the dirt road, police said.
Teen allegedly hits cop on head with nightstick
A 19 year old attacked a police officer with another officer's nightstick and was arrested after a scuffle last night in Ewa, police said.The teen-ager's father called police at 11 p.m. complaining that his son was throwing rocks at his house at 91-1713 Bond Street. The father told police he suspected his son was on drugs.
When police arrived, the teen-ager grabbed a can of pesticide and sprayed it on the windshield of an officer's vehicle, police said. When officers tried to subdue the suspect, the teen-ager grabbed a metal baton from the belt of a police officer and struck another officer in the head, police said.
The suspect and the police officer were taken to St. Francis Medical Center West. Both were treated for minor injuries and released.
Police arrested the teen-ager for theft, assault, harassment and resisting arrest.
Waimanalo traffic death spurs homicide probe
Traffic investigators have opened a negligent homicide investigation into the death of 32-year-old Lorrie Wiley in a head-on collision in Waimanalo Tuesday.Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, police said. The condition of the 19-year-old male driver of the other car was upgraded to stable from critical at the Castle Medical Center.
New Year's stabbing brings assault charge
John Paseuth, 48, was charged with first-degree assault in connection with a stabbing during a New Year's party in Palolo. Paseuth allegedly stabbed a 35-year-old man in the upper chest with a pen knife, police said.
7 exposed to insecticide are now back at work
Seven employees from Pioneer Hi-Bred International exposed to an insecticide yesterday morning were back at work today, company officials said.Richard McCormack, plant manager of the seed corn company in Waialua, said the workers were affected by an insecticide when the wind shifted. All were decontaminated by medical staff and firemen and were held for observation.
Police seek help solving Hilo lawn-tractor theft
HILO -- Police are asking for the public's help in solving the theft of a lawn tractor from the Waiakea Agricultural Experimental Station on Stainback Highway south of Hilo on Dec. 28 or 29.The thieves stole the red tractor, valued at $3,950, from a shop by pushing it down an access road, then driving it away, police said.
Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call Big Island police at 961-2311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Suspect in two bank robberies arraigned
A Kaimuki man suspected of robbing two banks last month was arraigned before a federal magistrate yesterday. The FBI said that Miles Kaneshiro, 40, robbed the Kaimuki branch of American Savings Bank on Dec. 27 and the Makiki branch of First Hawaiian Bank on Dec. 23.
