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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 7, 2007

House reconsiders same-sex benefits

 •  Legislature 2007
Read up on the latest happenings in the Legislature, find out how to contact your lawmakers, and explore other resources.

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Government Writer

The state House yesterday revived a measure that extends state employee health coverage to same-sex partners.

Passage of the proposal could further Hawai'i's legal recognition of same-sex relationships.

House members voted unanimously to amend a bill to include unmarried couples and their children in the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

"We really need to show some movement on this issue," said Rep. Joe Bertram, D-11th (Makena Wailea, Kihei). He said extending the benefits was long overdue and would show the state was progressing toward equality.

The benefits bill was one of about 700 lawmakers dealt with yesterday as this year's session neared the midway point.

They passed out most of the Democratic majority's priorities. Initiatives that will move between the Legislature's two chambers during tomorrow's crossover include bills that aim to:

  • Make more affordable housing available;

  • Encourage environmentally friendly development;

  • Provide healthcare for uninsured children;

  • Improve pedestrian safety;

  • Provide tax-relief to low-income residents.

    A few of the more controversial bills — such as those that would curb real-estate speculation or allow psychologists to prescribe certain prescription drugs — were debated on the floor, approved and sent to the other chamber.

    EQUAL TREATMENT

    The bill to extend health benefits to the unmarried partners of state employees would match an existing requirement for private-sector employers.

    Private-sector employees were given these rights under a 1997 law, but legislators exempted state workers to save the state money.

    The intent of the new bill is to provide equal treatment to state employees, said Rep. Sylvia Luke, who introduced the amendment.

    She said her original bill got lost in the shuffle when it was intertwined with a civil-unions law that would give same-sex couples the same rights as married couples.

    "This bill definitely has merit of its own and should not have been combined or related to the civil-unions bill," she said.

    The measure is set for a full vote tomorrow. It will face further consideration in the state Senate.

    The Senate also agreed to amendments yesterday to bills about drug testing of public-school teachers, and turning supermarkets and big-box retailers into redemption centers under the state's bottle law.

    The amendments position the bills for a vote tomorrow. If approved, these bills also will move to the other chamber for further consideration.

    Senators voted for an amendment to a bill that would require the state Department of Education to drug-test teachers and others who work with children when there is reasonable suspicion of drug use.

    DRUG CONSEQUENCES

    Teachers who refuse testing would be placed on administrative leave for 30 days. Teachers who test positive for drugs could face administrative leave, the potential revocation of their teaching certificate or losing their job. The department also could refer teachers for substance-abuse counseling.

    State Sen. Clayton Hee, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, cited recent cases where teachers have been suspected of using or trafficking in drugs. Hee also noted that Roger Takabayashi, the president of the Hawai'i State Teachers Association, has supported the reasonable-suspicion standard for drug testing.

    "Whenever there is a disturbing development, such as the latest report of a public-school teacher arrested for a drug offense, public pressure mounts for a crackdown to prevent this from happening again," Hee said.

    Senators also approved an amendment that would continue to exempt small retailers but would require supermarkets and big-box retailers to serve as redemption centers under the bottle law. Some lawmakers believe recycling would increase if consumers can bring back used bottles and cans to the larger stores for redemption.

    Other bills moving forward are a few that aim at improved voter turnout by allowing permanent absentee voting and same-day registration; reinforce the state's regulations on dam inspection and maintenance; and create a felony charge for more than three prostitution convictions.

    Advertiser staff writer Derrick DePledge contributed to this report.

    Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.