Posted on: Friday, January 24, 2003
Caucus' 80-bill package aims at improving kids', families' lives
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Leaving a young child unattended in a motor vehicle would be a crime, smoking would be banned from public schools and at school activities, and substance abuse prevention programs would be expanded under legislation supported by a group of lawmakers called the "Keiki Caucus."
The Keiki Caucus, made up of 29 of the 76 Democratic and Republican lawmakers, yesterday unveiled its package of more than 80 bills aimed at improving children's lives and strengthening families. Many of the proposals call for more financing for various programs targeting children and families, and caucus members emphasized that tight budget problems should not deter the state from financing such efforts.
"We must see how much more cost effective it is to keep a young person out of trouble with positive activities than to provide costly programs of rehabilitation and remediation," said House Health Committee Chairman Dennis Arakaki, D-30th (Moanalua, Kalihi Valley, Alewa). "All we need to do is compare the cost of an afterschool program to the cost of maintaining an inmate in prison."
Arakaki, the co-convener of the Keiki Caucus, spoke of the importance of substance abuse prevention and intervention programs, saying drug abuse is often the root cause of family violence and juvenile delinquency.
Acknowledging that financing such programs is a challenge, Arakaki proposed imposing a surcharge on the liquor tax, a 1-cent cigarette tax increase and possibly transferring money from property confiscations into a trust fund to pay for these programs. Arakaki did not immediately have details on those proposals, and said they were not endorsed by all members of the Keiki Caucus.
Another measure endorsed by the caucus is a bill that would make leaving a child under 9 years old unattended in a motor vehicle a petty misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days in jail. The term "unattended" would mean either without anyone else in the vehicle or with someone less than 15 years old.
Rep. Marilyn Lee, D-38th (Mililani, Mililani Mauka), said leaving young children unattended in a vehicle is dangerous and that particularly in the summer leaving a child in a closed vehicle can cause serious injury or death.
The caucus is also backing a bill that would prohibit anyone, including employees, from smoking in public schools, school buses and school functions, regardless of where it is. Violators would be subject to a fine of up to $100 for the first offense and up to $250 for each offense thereafter.
Other bills in the caucus package include establishing a 24-hour poison center, requiring children under eight years old and weighing less than 80 pounds to sit in a motor vehicle booster seat, and creating a Native Hawaiian Health Program in the Department of Health.
