House Standing Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian affairs resolutions hearing. Today is Tuesday, April 1, 2025. It's 2:00 p.m. and we're in Conference Room 325 at the State Capitol. Before we get started, I'm just going to read through our housekeeping rules.

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Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without ability to rejoin. Okay, we'll get into our first agenda item. HCR158 HD1 and HR153 HD1 together requesting the judiciary to convene a working group on to develop landlord tenant code improvements to increase the supply of housing in Hawaii. There's no one signed up to testify. Oh.

And if anyone who isn't signed up to testify but would like to testify can sign up at the table on the right on all of the agenda items. Okay, is there anyone in the room wishing to testify?

Hello, Chair. Vice Chair. My name is Lindsey Garcia and Members. My name is Lindsey Garcia from Hawaii Realtors. I apologize. I think we meant to indicate that we're testifying in person. I apologize if that wasn't submitted properly, but we stand in strong support of this measure.

We believe that it will be very helpful to bring a group of stakeholders together to work through landlord tenant issues over the years and to see if we can better get ahead of a lot of the issues that landlords and tenants alike face in order to have a better, better and improved rental housing market. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to testify for HCR158HD1 or HR153HD1? Okay, Members, any questions? Okay, no questions. We will move on to HCR 55 NHR 51, requesting the judiciary to conduct a study analyzing how effective existing laws on domestic violence, temporary restraining orders and harassment by stalking are in preventing continued abuse and harassment. First up.

Well, we received testimony from the Judiciary Department of prosecuting Attorney.

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the Committee. Daniel Hugo for the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office. And we offered comment on this bill. We did look at the judiciary's testimony and we do agree that there are some things that the current resolution requests that may overstep the judicial office.

However, there is data that the judiciary does have that would be useful. So we separated our testimony into non criminal context, which is information that we probably wouldn't have, and then the criminal context where the judiciary would have that information. I'm available for more questions. Thank you.

Thank you. We received testimony from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women in support Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

You'll have to bear with me. I don't know where my glasses are. So. Good afternoon. Chair Tarnas, Vice Chair Poepoe, Committee Members. I'm Angie Mercado, the Executive Director of the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We are the Association of nonprofit organizations that serve survivors of domestic violence and those that cause harm in our community.

And we do support this measure and we really support the intent of the measure and the extensive comments that we have on the actual bill.

Language is really to reflect the fact that as a community over the last 26 years, the Legislature or the city, county, Honolulu City and County of Honolulu have directed us to look at how good or not our laws are with respect to domestic violence.

And, and it just feels like as a community, we haven't really followed up on it. So we followed up on your request. But globally, in Hawaii, we haven't done the work to follow through. And data is not enough. Data are just numbers. But without context and story, we don't really know how effective this is.

And so one of the things that I've noted is that these studies lacked meaningful survivor participation participation. And they really focus on the city and County of Honolulu. And we know that how things are done here are not the same as they're done on Big Island, Maui, Kauai, Lanai and Molokai.

And so if we are going to do this, we should pick up on where we've already left off, take the data that we already have, include our neighbor islands, include law enforcement and prosecutors of every single county, and have meaningful representation of survivors. And we can't do this unfunded without personnel and financial resources.

In this environment, we're just going to have more of the same three years from now, somebody's going to ask for a resolution studying. Why isn't this happening? Why isn't this going well for survivors in my community? Thank you for this opportunity to testify. I'm available for any questions you may have.

Thank you. That's all. Signed up to testify. Is there anyone else wishing to provide testimony? Okay, Members, questions for Angelina. Can you just briefly explain a little bit about the. The draft that you proposed in your testimony?

Sure. I'm gonna base this on my memory since I can't see my own notes. Zero, I'm sorry, I, but really, one of the things that we wanted to do, and I think there's a great point by the prosecutors about who is the direct. Who is the best state agency to direct this.

And so we really wanted to make sure that there was a working group and we wanted to have folks at the table and have not only just buy in, but have meaningful. A meaningful contribution to this. And really take a look at this from a perspective of what have we already done?

How do we narrow the scope on this? Because domestic violence cases are so complex. We're talking about protective orders, temporary restraining orders, we're talking about stalking, which we really haven't studied.

If I pointed out in my testimony, the 2017 audit by the city and county auditors, when they looked at the data set, they included other crimes, but one of the crimes that they did not include was stalking. So they had terroristic, threatening, robbery, you know709906 all that kind of stuff.

So if we really want to do the two things, look at DV TROs and protective orders, and then we want to add stocking, we got to pick up where one has left off. And we've got to add a whole new level of analysis.

And that's one of the reasons why I try to narrow the scope in terms of how do we know what, what's really effective? When it's subjective. What works for one survivor may not work for another. What works on Maui may not work on Oahu.

And we also wanted to extend the timeline because, you know, December, call it mid December report to the Legislature. I don't think it's going to have as a meaningful impact unless we want to keep doing this every five years.

Okay, thank you. Thank you. Okay, Members, any more questions?

Okay, seeing then we'll move on to HCR23 HD1 requesting the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in planning and designing the new Oahu Community Correctional center in Halawa to include a circuit and district court Facility and establish a release procedure under which detainees or inmates upon release are transported to a site other than residential communities or public space cases.

And first up to testify is Hawaii Correctional Systems Oversight Commission. Okay, they testified in support. Office of Public Defender.

Good afternoon, Chair. Vice Chair. Sonny Ganaden, Deputy Public Defender. We're the Office of the Public Defender is in support of this resolution with an amendment, you know, should New Oahu Community Correctional center be built?

We think that a courtroom in the jail we hope would expedite the hearings and lead to more just remedies for individuals who are housed pretrial. There is an issue with the title of this resolution. I'm guessing that the introducer was reacting to community concerns about people being released and coming back to their residential communities.

But this is just illegal, barring individuals from residential communities or public spaces. You know, ordinarily individuals are not brought back into a squad car after they're released from a bail hearing and then dropped off in some random place. And then, you know, most of all, who could be considered a residential place or a public space.

This violates the 1st, 5th, 8th, 4th, 14th Amendment and the rights against freedom against movement. So for all those, you know, legal reasons, we suggest amending the title. Other than that, we support it. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Johnson, are you here to testify?

Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee, I'm Tommy Johnson, Director of the Department of Corrections Rehabilitation. I'll just summarize our testimony. We support the intent of this measure. I did have discussions with court administrator Rod Miley regarding this matter.

And we've decided that one multi purpose courtroom would be sufficient to handle both district and circuit court matters. With respect to the transport of inmates. 99% of the inmates that are being released are picked up by a program or family Members.

But for those that don't have a ride, we will be willing to transport them to the nearest bus depot where they can catch a ride. Thank you.

Thank you. That's all signed up. Anyone else wishing to testify? Okay, Members, any questions? Okay, no questions. We will move on to HCR174HD1HR170HD1. Requesting the Department of Human Services, Office of Youth Services and Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council to examine the availability and utilization of Ina based learning programs offered to youth in the juvenile legal system.

There's no one signed up to testify. We received two in support, zero in opposition, one with comments. Is there anyone here wishing to provide testimony?

Vice Chair on Zoom. Yes, Vice Chair, this is Cameron Clark with Debt Free Justice Hawaii. Okay, I Believe that I signed up to testify.

Okay, Please go ahead.

Thank you. Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the Committee. My name is Cameron Clark. I am co-coordinator of Debt Free Justice, the national campaign to eliminate youth fees and fines. I'm also coordinator of Debt Free Justice Hawaii, which is our statewide coalition led by community nonprofit Ekulumeanui.

We stand in full support of HCR 174 and HR 170 at the House Draft 1. We lovingly call this the now resolution. It was drafted for youth by youth. It was led by the Youth Council of Akolumeanui Naopio Waivai.

In between soccer practice and volleyball practice and homework, they came together to consider what an alternative to the current juvenile justice system could look like. And that is where this resolution was ultimately created from. This Committee has already heard Senate Bill 1028, which seeks to eliminate youth fees and fines in the Hawaii family court system.

And we think of this piece of legislation as an opportunity to look at what the next stage of juvenile justice could look like.

In the absence of assessing fees and fines and the alternative to charging fees and fines, youth could be provided opportunities to complete community service which is focused on and built out of Aina based learning principles, understanding Aloha, Aina work, understanding Kuleana and the opportunities that they have to achieve rehabilitation and accountability.

And so we believe that this is an opportunity to collaborate with the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council and the Office for Youth Services and in order to ensure that the judiciary is equipped and prepared to promote these opportunities for youth when they do go before the court. Mahalo.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to testify? Okay. Seeing none. Members, any questions? I just wanted to note for HCR174, HD1, two support. Zero opposed one comments. And then for HR170, HD1 for support. Zero opposed. One comments.

Okay, we'll move on to HCR 185 requesting the Auditor to conduct a social and financial assessment of proposed mandatory health insurance coverage for Native Hawaiian healing and cultural practices offered through federally qualified health centers. We have testimony and support from Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Papa Ola Lokahi.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. My name is Keopu Rilitz. I'm the Director of Policy and Strategy with Papa Olokahi. You have our testimony in writing. We are just offering comments.

And as you consider this resolution moving forward, one of the things as a Native Hawaiian health board that we wanted to just bring to mind is that when we discuss reimbursements, medical insurance reimbursements for traditional Hawaiian healing. A lot of times in the community that goes hand in hand with licensure and registration.

And so as you think through those things, just know that while we might want to talk about one, what's going to end up happening in the community as we talk about both. So I just wanted to we just wanted to highlight that component as you consider this resolution moving forward and share those comments with you.

I'm here for any questions. Mahalo.

Mahalo. Anyone else wishing to provide testimony? Okay. That's all we have signed up. Any questions, Members? Rep., questions.

So I see that it's to going comments and then what I'm teasing out. From your comments is that licensure is. A difficult thing around Native Hawaiian practices.

It can be a very complex conversation. So this conversation is more than 30 years old and has sort of evolved over time. Yes.

So.

Is this measure the appropriate way to initiate or to continue this conversation? Or might there be another way other than this measure?

One of the things that we would maybe recommend is that we pause and have those conversations start maybe over the summer so that we can restart in the next legislative session. That being said, I don't think there's not a one size fits all. This conversation has been ongoing for more than 30 years.

And so while we would recommend that some of these conversations sort of restart in the community, given that that is one of our roles as convening Native, traditional Native Hawaiian healers, we don't see that there's a singular path, which is why we registered comments as opposed to opposition or support, because that's one way that we see appropriate.

But just because it doesn't happen that way doesn't mean I don't think that that's the only way that can happen. But because our role as conveners is to do just that, not to tell folks what to do, but to bring folks around the table, that would be our ideal situation.

But I don't think that's the only way we can move forward.

Okay.

And I guess I ask because of my background in the health arena and that I know that there had been conversations when the Medicaid waiver had sought out permission. Yes.

And that it raised a lot of difficult community conversations, that this reso could have that same kind of effect and that maybe we need to pause this process to let you folks do the convening.

So I do think we have, based from the 1115 waiver moving forward. I know that I was not with Papolo Okahi, but I was aware of what was happening in the community, and there were a lot of difficult conversations that happened. I do think we have moved forward from there.

We are not at the same place that we were then, so I will say that. And we have had conversations with the Med Quest division as well as the healers that we bring to the table. And so I think I just want to highlight that I don't think we're in the same position as with the 1115 waiver.

That being said, we do recommend, or we would like to see more of these conversations happen in the community and start there, or I should say restart, because like I said, it's these conversations, they didn't stop just because the 1115 waiver didn't include the traditional Hawaiian healing, let's put it that way.

But I don't know that we've gotten to the point where we would say where we wouldn't welcome starting those conversations in the community, restarting them first during.

The interim Chair, I'm sorry I'm asking these questions, but one last question because I think this, this actually addresses a concern of mine.

If it could be perceived in any way that an additional insurance mandate, even for something as truly worthy as this, as these practices, could harm the Affordable Care Act and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, given our current context, even more so now, the current context of this that we find ourselves in nationally and statewide, do you think a pause is even, maybe even more of an important way to culturally go through this appropriately?

I'm not sure. I don't want to answer because I'm not sure that we've done that analysis thoroughly. And so I don't want to give an answer that's premature for our analysis. Where we were coming from is just because of the conversations, as I had shared, have been ongoing.

And because they've sort of been ongoing, we sort of know where the pulse is. And one of the things that we think might be ideal is if we, you know, restart in the interim with some convenings in the community.

But again, one of the reasons we chose specifically for comments is so that we sort of can make folks aware that that's our ideal situation. That doesn't mean we speak for all traditional Hawaiian healers. And because of that, we're sort of open to seeing different paths.

But I do, again, I can't speak to the ACA, but I can say with fairly it is. I guess it's a personal opinion. But from what I've seen personally from the 11:15 waiver to today is that the conversations have moved forward. So we are a little bit farther along.

We do just from our perspective as a native Hawaiian Health Board would like to see the convenings restart at the community level. But if it doesn't, I think we can still move forward and continue the conversation.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Members. Any more questions? Okay, we will move on to HCR147 or HR147. Establish establishing a legislative working group for the continued oversight of the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Execution of funds Appropriated by Act 279, Sessions Law of Hawaii 2022. First step is Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Okay. Not present.

Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii submitted testimony and support. Department of Hawaiian Homelands also in support. Is there anyone else wishing to provide testimony? Okay. Okay. No one to ask questions of.

We will move on to HCR193HD1HR186HD1 requesting the Office of Hawaiian affairs to convene a working group to examine and consider the transfer of Native Hawaiian burial site management under Chapter 6E. Hawaii Revised Statutes from the State Historic Preservation Division to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and Members of the Committee. McKenna Woodward, on behalf of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, OHA strongly supports this resolution and appreciates the Legislature's continued recognition of the need to ensure the care, protection and proper treatment of Native Hawaiian burials.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has long held Kuleana under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 6E and is uniquely positioned to lead a collaborative inquiry into how to improve the Native Hawaiian burial component of the state's Historic Historic Review Program.

OHA stands ready to fulfill the role envisioned in this resolution and we are committed to convening a process that is inclusive, culturally grounded and solution oriented.

OHA is also proposing to amend the community membership Provision at page 5, lines 31 to 35 to include recognized lineal and cultural descendants who self identify and submit their names for selection by a majority vote of the working group. Mahalo for your consideration of this measure.

Thank you. DLNR, SHPDT. Jessica Puff, State Historic Preservation Division okay, Not present there we received seven testimonies in support, zero in opposition, one with comments for HCR193, HC1. And one support one opposition one comments for HR186H HD1. Is there anyone else wishing to provide testimony? Okay. Seeing none. Members any questions?

We will move on to HCR8. HR8 urging the United States Department of Justice to include Hawaii in the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Regional Outreach Program, Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Aloha Again Chair, Vice Chair and Members. McKenna Woodward, Office of Hawaiian affairs in strong support of HCR8 and HR8 OHA is deeply concerned about the disproportionate violence faced by Native Hawaiians, particularly women and girls.

As highlighted in our work with the Commission on the Status of Women on the Missing and Murdered and Native Hawaiian Women and Girls Task force and its 2022 report. The report revealed Native Hawaiian women and Girls comprise over 40% of all missing persons cases in the state, despite representing only about 10% of the total population.

The report called for systemic change, better data collection and improved federal coordination, especially with sectors like the military and tourism industries. In response, the military launched Operation Keiki Shield to combat child exploitation and human trafficking.

HCR8 and HR8 are a critical step toward addressing the task force's recommendations and ensuring Hawaii's inclusion in the national efforts to combat the missing and murdered indigenous persons crisis. These measures will help secure the resources, justice, and protections that Native Hawaiian communities desperately need. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you. That is the only person signed up to testify for HCR8. We received foreign support. 0 opposed. 0 comments. NHR8, same thing. Foreign support. 0 opposed. 0 comments. Is there anyone else wishing to provide testimony? Okay, Members, questions? No questions.

We will move on to HCR124HD1, HR120HD1 encouraging the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language of the University of Hawaii at Manoa to further provide learning resources and opportunities that promote Hawaiian language and culture. There's no testimony for this one. Is there anyone in person wishing to provide testimony? Okay, seeing none.

We will move on to HCR180HD1, requesting the state office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Department of Law Enforcement Office, homeless coordinators of each county, county law enforcement and social services providers to work collaboratively and effectively to address homelessness in Hawaii. There's no one signed up to testify.

We did receive testimony with comments from the statewide office on Homeless and Housing solutions and three support testimonies. Zero opposed. Is there anyone wishing to provide testimony in the room on Zoom? Okay, seeing none. No one to ask questions of.

We'll move on to HCR 72, HR 65, urging the Ethics Commission of each county to adopt standards similar to that applicable to state elected officials and officers as adopted and enforced by the State Ethics Commission. For this one, there's no one signed up. We did receive four support testimonies. Zero opposed? Zero comments.

And then for HR65, we received two in support. Is there anyone in the room wishing to testify on Zoom? Okay, moving on.

HCR 100, HR 96, requesting the State of Hawaii to require that any individual or group that administers the mandatory harassment and discrimination training to employees demonstrate adequate competency in lgbtq, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and more identities, identity and culturally specific gender identity relevant to Hawaii. Okay. We received testimony and support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission.

Pride at work. Hawaii on Zoom. Michael.

No. Sorry, I'm not here on behalf of Pride of Work. Sorry, that was a mistake. I'm here on behalf of the Hawaii State LGBTQ + Commission.

Okay. Do you want to say a little bit?

Yeah, sure. Michael Golojuch Jr., Vice Chair of the Hawaii State LGBTQ Commission. He/him, pronouns. You should have received our written testimony and strong support of this measure. Any Anybody asking why this is necessary?

All you have to do is read the comment section on any social media post about would bring justice, equality or even talk about LGBTQIA plus issues.

We are very happy to see that this resolution does recognize that there is a huge distinction between the Western civilizations, LGBTQIA and then as well as we talk about Native Hawaiian and other Polynesian embracement of Mahu Faafina and that this definitely needs to be put into practice here in the state and we definitely need to make sure that this that we do have the the training that is requested in this resolution.

We do want to go on record that the Hawaii State LGBTQ Commission is always available to help with any type of these things. That is what you all put us into statute to do. So I'm available for any questions. Mahalo.

Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to testify in the room or on zoom? Okay, Members, any questions? Okay, no questions. We will move on to HCR 30 HR 29, requesting each county Police Department to increase enforcement against out of state vehicles operating on public roadways that have not been properly registered in the appropriate county.

We received support testimony from the Department of Transportation. Is there anyone in the room or on Zoom wishing to testify? Okay, seeing none. No one to ask questions of.

We'll move on to HCR43HD1, requesting the Department of Law Enforcement and Department of Transportation to study the possibility of a Highway Patrol and the installation of speed cameras along major freeways and highways in primary areas of speeding, including the impact it would have on the district courts. HCR 43, we received one testimony in opposition and that's all.

Is there anyone in the room or on zoom wishing to testify? Okay, seeing none. No one to ask questions of. We will move on to HCR119HD1, HR115HD1, endorsing Taiwan's international participation, supporting the signing of a United States Taiwan bilateral trade agreement and commemorating the relationships and exchanges between the State of Hawaii and Taiwan.

Department of Business Economic Development Tourism on Toom. Timothy.

Good afternoon. Chair, Vice Chair, a Member of Members of the Committee. I'm Timothy Chiu with the Department of Business Economic Development Tourism on behalf of debt. We stand on our testimony and support the resolutions. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to provide testimony? Okay, seeing none. Members, any questions for our testifier? Okay, no questions.

We will move on to HCR62HD1, requesting that the sheriff's Sheriff Division of the Department of Law Enforcement fly the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia's flag year round at the state capital. We did not receive any testimony for this measure. Is there anyone online or in person wishing to provide testimony?

Okay, seeing none, we will move on to HR 57 requesting that the Sheriff Division of the Department of Law Enforcement fly the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia's flag year round at the State Capitol. No testimony for this one was submitted.

Is there anyone wishing to provide testimony in the audience or on Zoom? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to our final measure. HCR109HD1.HR105HD1. Supporting free and responsible scholastic journalism and actively supporting and honoring the First Amendment of the United States Constitution in student publications. CR109 we received Department of Education.

Okay, they're not present, but they submitted comments. Leif Allgood.

Hi. Thank you to Representative Poipoi and Ternas. My name is Leif Allgood. I am a junior at Mckinley High School and I am a first year reporter for the Pinyon, our school newspaper. And. And I just want to say I stand on my written testimony. Thank you.

Thank you. On Zoom, we have Sean Mclaughlin.

Aloha. Thank you for this opportunity to share a comment. I also submitted written testimony, mainly want to highlight the benefit for student journalists, particularly on neighbor islands and in communities that don't get a lot of other news coverage.

This will hopefully really help students to get into the communities that are not well covered and create some new news content that will benefit the whole community, not just the students and the schools that they're part of. So I wanted to thank you very much for supporting this measure. Aloha.

Thank you. Is there anyone else wishing to provide testimony? That's all we have that signed up. Okay. Please come on up and introduce yourself. And after you conclude, if you can, leave your name and ask the sign up sheet. Okay.

Thank you, representatives Tarnas and Poepoe for the opportunity to testify in support of HR109 and HCR105. My name is Malia Manuel and I am a member of the editorial board for Mckinley High School's opinion. The student publication release form targeted by these resolutions is unnecessarily hindering student journalists from performing our duties as student journalists.

We are already guided by multiple ethical codes in everything we do. By passing these resolutions, we will gain the freedom to more effectively seek the truth, minimize harm, and maintain accountability and transparency in our work.

Thank you. Thank you. I actually have it. Malia Manuel. Yes, got it. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else wishing to provide testimony?

Thank you, Representatives Tarnas and Poepoe, for the opportunity to testify in support of HR 105. My name is Ni Nguyen. I am a sophomore and a second year reporter and assistant editor for opinion. Mckinley High School School newspaper. Interacting with our community is a way to increase media literacy.

Research found that almost 80% of adults have never met or been interviewed by journalists. Interacting with as many people in our community as possible is one way to solve that problem.

This resolution will help us achieve this by ensuring that FERPA does not restrict the pool of students that we can reach through the work we do for paper. Thank you.

Thank you, Dominic Neal.

Thank you, Chair Tarnas, Vice Chair Poepoe and Members of the Committee for the opportunity to testify in support of House Resolution 105 and House Concurrent Resolution 109. My name is Dominic Neal and I'm a junior at Mckinley High School where I also have the opportunity to serve as an editor for our school newspaper, Opinion.

I also want to thank Representatives Peruso, Amado, Bellotti and Cochrane for introducing this resolution, as well as the Department of Education for publicly supporting it. As student journalists, we take our responsibility seriously. Every story begins with a pitch session where we carefully consider ethical concerns.

We follow strict guidelines to ensure transparency, clearly stating the purpose of each interview and ensuring sources understand how their words and photos may be published. A key principle in journalism is minimizing harm, and there have been times when, out of caution, we've chosen to involve a student's parents before publication.

These decisions balance our ethical responsibilities with the importance of telling the story. I've covered a wide range of stories, from football games to political victories to investigative articles, including a cold case breakthrough on our campus. In every article, I've prioritized accuracy and dignity in our reporting. Excessive oversight can hinder our ability to report on important issues.

Journalism is about seeking the truth, and having the freedom to do so is crucial. HR105 and HDR109 recognize the impact of student journalism by empowering young voices and fostering critical thinking, responsibility and civic engagement skills that benefit not only students such as myself, but our schools, communities and the future of Hawaii.

I respectfully urge this Committee to support HR105 and HDR109. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you. That looks like all we had signed up to testify. Come on up.

Hi, my name is Rose Ganotisi. Thank you for allowing me to testify and I am a reporter for the Mckinley High School's Opinion, which is our school newspaper. And I just want to say that I stand on my written testimony in support of HCR109 and HR105. Thank you. Thank you.

Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of HR105 and HCR109. My name is Cindy Reeves and I advise Mckinley High School student newspaper, the Opinion. I'd like to thank Representative Perruso, Belatti and Cochran for introducing these resolutions so this issue can get a public on the record discussion.

I was very pleased to learn via the DOE's testimony at the Education Committee hearing on March 20 that the Department does concur with this resolution and is in the process of clarifying this information and plans to review and discuss the forms mentioned in the resolution.

The Education Committee added a deadline of December 312025 and I request that the deadline be the start of the school year 25-26. The DOA was aware of this issue before these resolutions were introduced and continuing to use an obsolete form will cause confusion and increased liability. I'm available for any questions and thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to provide testimony? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Rep. Perruso?

Ms. Nguyen? Probably butchered her name. I just wanted to thank you for your journalism. I read many of your articles and some of them having to do with this issue in particular. I'm very grateful for your work and I just,

just wanted to note for your understanding that it was precisely the work of you and your peers and your teacher that actually has reversed DOE policy.

So while the DOE may have said for many years that they've been contemplating this question, I know from personal experience because I've had multiple interactions with principals and I'm sure you have had some interaction with your principal about this, that all the principals understood that this was an issue of ferpa and it really provided a barrier, a really hard thing to overcome for you to do your journalism work.

And I just wanted to ask you if you and your. Your peers understood that you have actually reversed Department of Education policy. That has been long standing. Are you aware of that? No, I was not. Yeah, it's a very big deal and I'm very proud of you. So congratulations and good job.

Thank you. Members, any more questions? Okay, we got everybody here. It looks like almost. Okay, move into decision making. HCR158 HD1, HR153 HD1 recommendation is to pass as is. Any concerns or questions? Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Members. I'll be taking the vote on both HCR158 HD1 and HR153 HD1 at the same time. Recommendation of Vice Chair is to pass as is. [Roll Call] Thank you very much. Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. HCR55 and HR51 recommendation is to adopt the draft proposed in the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence testimony. I believe this is pages 345 and 6 of their testimony and then 2 that adopted amended language, technical make technical, non substantive amendments, mostly for typing, typos, formatting and clarity, consistency and style.

So that's the recommendation. Questions, comments, concerns? Okay, Rep. Shimizu.

Thank you. Chair. I just had a question or concern that the judiciary was kind of denying responsibility for this. And because it is requesting the judiciary to do it, I wasn't sure if that had any relevance.

Yeah. So the judiciary did come opposed to the resolution that we are hearing. And in the testimony from the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, they do propose a slightly, actually kind of different approach, which is to make it into a working group rather than a study. I think there's still time moving forward in the Senate.

If when they review that draft, there's still issues, if it's heard in the Senate, that I think they could bring those up there and hopefully have them try to resolve it along the way and keep the conversation going.

Thank you, Chair. My apologies. Thank you.

Okay, so the recommendation. That's the recommendation. Any more questions or concerns? This is for HCR55 and HR51. Chair for the vote.

Thank you. We're voting on HCR55 and HR51. Recommendation of Vice Chair is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Recognizing the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone else? Is there anyone voting with reservations? Anyone voting no? Seeing none. Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. Okay. HCR23 HD1. I hear the concerns of the Public Defender's Office, and my recommendation is at this time to pass it out as is. But I would recommend that the public defenders off. Not public Defender. Yeah. Public Defender's office stay, you know, involved through the process and bring their concerns as this moves forward.

So that's the recommendation, as is. Any questions, comments, concerns? Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you, Vice Chair. Recommendation pass HCR23HD1 as is. Chair and Vice Chair, vote Aye. Recognizing the excused absence of Representative Cochran, is there anyone voting no? Anyone voting with reservations? Chair, Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. HCR 174, HD1.HR 170. Recommendation is to pass as Is any questions, comments or concerns. Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Vice Chair's recommendation. HCR 174 HD1 and HR 170 HD1 recommendation is to pass as is Chair and. And Vice Chair vote Aye, recognizing the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone voting with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. HCR185.185 recommendation is to pass as is. But I hear the concerns of Papa Ola Lakhi. I encourage them as well to stay involved as this goes through the process and keep raising awareness of those concerns.

And I hope that in the interim and that the convenings in the community can occur, because I think that's really important. So that is the recommendation as is for HCR185. Questions, comments, concerns? Members, can I express concerns?

And actually the rationale for why I think I'm going to vote no on this. I've consistently voted no on any insurance mandates that we've been imposing. And what this is typically for is a mechanism, it's a sunrise analysis to create an insurance mandate.

I think the questions that I have raised and will continue to raise have to do with the enactment of the Affordable Care Act and the complexity of how the Affordable Care Act intersects with our prepaid healthcare law.

And in the context that we have where everything is under threat from the Federal Government, where benefits that have long been fought for, including those healthcare benefits that we fought for in this community in 1974, us going down this continued path is just not wise until we get clarity around this question and find a way forward.

And unfortunately, what I've seen over the past few years through the Auditor's analysis is that question is never answered. And it's actually a very serious question that needs to be answered. If the Auditor were to take it up, I would be grateful for that.

So I'm expecting that this will move forward and maybe if this continues to move forward, that this gets raised at some point, I will. You know, I feel that as when I was serving as Chair, I'd raised this issue time and time again.

And I just think us going down this course continues to one, raise expectations in the community that we shouldn't. We should have this question answered clearly for. For the sake of policy making moving forward. And so for those reasons, Chair, I'm going to vote no. Okay. Thank you, Chair.

I'll be voting with reservations for many of the same reasons. Okay.

With reservations for Perruso. No, for. Okay. Any additional comments, concerns, questions. Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Vice Chair's recommendation on HCR185 is Dependent Pass as is Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. And we have a no vote for Rep Belatti and with reservations from Rep Perruso. Anyone else voting? No. Anyone else voting with reservations? Vice Chair recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Members. HR147 ESTA recommendation is to pass out House draft one. So to make one amendment, and this would be on page two relating to the group, the membership that makes up the working group, we are going to remove Representative Gene Ward and replace Representative Gene Ward with Representative Diamond Garcia.

And then we're going to strike out the 18th district and add the 42nd district. Just changing that membership. Questions, Comments, Concerns? Okay, Hearing none. Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Vice Chair. Recommendation on HR147 is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Recognizing the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone voting with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. Members. HCR193 HD1. HR 186 HD1 recommendation is to pass out a House Draft 2 and the amendment would be to accept the from OHA's testimony. The amendment offered in OHA's testimony. Any questions, comments or concerns? Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR193 HD1 and HR186 HD1. Vice Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone voting with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Chair. Members. HCR8, HR8 recommendation is to pass as is. Are there any questions, comments or concerns? Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR8 and HR8. Recommendation of Vice Chairs to pass as is Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone voting Aye with reservations?

Reservations?

Reservations for Representative Garcia. Anyone else voting aye with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members. HCR124 HD1 and HR120 HD1 recommendation is to pass as is. Any questions, concerns or comments. Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR124 HD1 and HR120. HD1 recommendation of Vice Chair is to pass as is Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone voting Aye with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Chair. Members HCR180HD One recommendation is to pass as is. Questions, comments or Concerns? Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR180. HD1. Recommendation is to pass as is.

Yep.

Chair and Vice Chair, vote I. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Anyone voting Aye with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Chair. HCR72.HR65. Recommendation is to pass as is Questions, comments or concerns? Okay. Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR 72 and HR 65. Recommendations to pass as is Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Anyone voting Aye with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members and Chair. HCR 100. HR 96. Recommendation is to pass as is Questions, comments or concerns? Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR 106. Vice Chair's recommendation is to pass as is Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone voting Aye with reservations? Anyone voting no?

No Vote for Representative Garcia. Reservations for Representative Shimizu. Anyone else voting no. Anyone else voting with reservations? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

No.

Thank you, Chair. Members, HCR 30, HR 29 as is questions, comments, concerns? Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR 30 and HR 29. Recommendation is to pass as is. Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Is there anyone voting Aye with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, chair. Members, HCR 43 HD1 as is. Questions, comments or concerns. Okay. Chair for the vote.

Voting on HCR43 HD1. Recommendation of Vice Chair is to pass as is Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Anyone voting aye with reservations. Anyone voting no? No vote for Representative Garcia. Any other no votes? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Members and chair. HCR119, HD1. HR115, HD1 as is. Questions, comments or concerns. Okay, Chair for the vote.

Thank you. Voting on HCR119 and HR115. Recommendation of Vice Chair is to pass as is. Chair and Vice Chair vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Anyone voting Aye with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Chair and Members. HCR62. HD1. Recommendation is to defer any questions or comments, concerns? Okay. HR 57. Recommendation is to defer any questions, comments or concerns? Okay. HCR109 HD1 HR105 HD1 recommendation is to pass as is questions or comments or concerns? Okay.

Thank you, Chair. I have a comment.

Okay.

I support this. This resolution. It's great to see the young people come here and testify. Very, very encouraging to see the young people testify. I just have a concern if maybe there should be language about age appropriate guidelines, because it does talk about bypassing some parental approvals.

So that would be my only concern, is that it's age appropriate. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Any other comments?

Chair for the vote, voting on HCR109, HR105. Recommendation is to pass as is Chair and Vice Chair Vote Aye. Noting the excused absence of Representative Cochran. Anyone voting Aye with reservations?

Reservations.

Reservations for Representative Garcia and reservations for Representative Shimizu. Anyone else voting Aye with reservations? Anyone voting no? Vice Chair, Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Members. And we are adjourned.