Hawaiʻi Women’s Legislative Caucus presents bill package supports women, children, families

Members of the bipartisan Hawaiʻi Women’s Legislative Caucus presented their 2024 legislative bill package addressing a variety of issues ranging from human trafficking to improvements in child care to safeguarding access to reproductive health care.

The package includes five bills and two resolutions:

• SB2603/HB1964: Relating to Early Child Care – Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a child care provider subsidy and bonus program to provide subsidies to retain the existing child care workforce in licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers and bonuses to registered family care homes.

• SB2604/HB1965: Relating to Abusive Litigation – Establishes a court’s authority to issue an order restricting abusive litigation. Perpetrators sometimes abuse the court system to further harass and control their victim. This bill would allow the court to limit abusive litigation.

• SB2605/HB1966: Relating to Health Care – Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide health insurance coverage for various sexual and reproductive health care services.

• SB2602/HB1967: Relating to the Human Trafficking Victim Services Fund – Changes the administration of the human trafficking victim services fund from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of the Attorney General.

• SB2601/HB1968: Relating to Sexual Abuse of Minors – Expands the time period by which a civil action for childhood sexual abuse may be initiated. Authorizes a court to require personnel of legal entities to undergo training on trauma-informed response.

• HCR5/HR1: Urging retail stores and pharmacies doing business in the state to adopt a policy on a national and local level guaranteeing an individual’s unhindered access to all United States Food and Drug Administration-Approved contraceptives.

• HCR6: Urging the members of Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation to monitor the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration and take action to limit the case from further restricting access to safe abortion options.

“As a co-convener for the Women’s Legislative Caucus, I truly appreciate the bipartisan approach of our members to many crucial issues facing our state,” said Rep. Lauren Matsumoto. “Our 2024 bill package addresses a wide range of issues from combating human trafficking to improvements in child care, which are critical for the future wellbeing of our state.”

This year, the caucus dedicates its legislative package to Nanci Kreidman, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Domestic Violence Action Center. Kreidman, who co-founded the organization 33 years ago, retired in 2023.

“The Women’s Legislative Caucus exists to give a voice specifically to women and children,” said Senate Vice President Michelle Kidani. “Issues like childcare, abuse, human trafficking, and healthcare access remain ever relevant and at the forefront of our work in the Legislature. I’d like to express my gratitude to community leaders like Nanci who have made incredible strides in advocating for others.”

“Nanci has been an extraordinary example for all of us and personifies what is means to be a woman helping and supporting women. She is passionate, thoughtful, and always engages with the highest intentions towards peace,” said Sen. Lynn DeCoite. “We have all benefited from her work developing and growing Domestic Violence Action Center over the past 34 years and are truly thankful for all of the work she has done for women, children, and families across our state.

In the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, there are 21 women representatives among the 51 members and 8 women senators among the 25 members.

See the entire 2024 Women’s Legislative Caucus Package here.