Photos submitted by Keiki Caucus and Resource Members

The Hawaii State Legislatures

Keiki Caucus
Celebrating over two decades of advocacy on behalf of
Hawaiis Children and Youth!
2016 Legislative Package

History
The 2016 Legislative Session marks the 26th anniversary of the
Hawaii State Legislatures Keiki Caucus. Established in 1990,
the idea of a Keiki Caucus spawned from a discussion with an
elected official from another state at a conference in New
York. Representative (now Senator) Suzanne Chun Oakland
asked long-time children's advocate Representative Dennis
Arakaki if he would work with her to establish a Children's
Caucus in Hawaii. Rep. Arakaki immediately said "yes" and
coined the name "Keiki Caucus". They believed a united group
Keiki Caucus Press Conference
of
legislators who were children and youth advocates, along with
circa 1990's
community groups could effectively streamline and identify more
unified proposals that positively affected the well-being of Hawaii's children and youth. Elected
officials often time introduce competing bills relating to children and the Keiki Caucus provides
fellow lawmakers with a good process of assessing child well-being in Hawaii, brainstorming
legislative and community solutions, and working together to implement those solutions.
Currently, Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland serve as convener.
The Keiki Caucus is a bipartisan group of 27 House and Senate members joined by a community
resource group of over 150 children and youth advocates, various non-profits, educators, youth,
parent groups, researchers, agency officials, businesses and other experts working to develop
initiatives to address a variety of issues affecting Hawaiis children and youth, including education,
health, child safety, youth development, food security, and other critical issues.
The bills and resolutions presented in the Keiki Caucus
Legislative Package were submitted by the Keiki Caucus
Resource Group after broad discussions and a vetting process
from May through October, which culminates in the annual
Children and Youth Summit, as well as bills and resolutions
submitted by individual legislators. For an issue to become a part
of the Keiki Caucus Legislative Package, at least 75% of
members must approve it.
The annual Children and Youth Summit, held in October, brings
2014
together students, advocates, professionals, parents, policymakers
and many others interested in improving the well-being of Hawaiis Children and Youth Summit
children and youth, to identify critical issues that affect the lives of our
younger generation, their families and the broader community, and work together to identify viable
solutions and approaches to ensure Hawaiis keiki, opio and their ohana remain happy, healthy,
safe and ready to learn and succeed.

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Membership

Rep. Henry J.C.

Aquino
D-38th Dist.

Sen. Rosalyn H.
Baker
D-6th Dist.

Rep. Tom
Brower
D-22nd Dist.

Sen. Suzanne
Chun Oakland
D-13th Dist.

Rep. Cindy
Evans
D-7th Dist.

Rep. Beth
Fukumoto Chang
R-36th Dist.

Sen. Brickwood
Galuteria
D-12th Dist.

Rep. Sharon E.
Har
D-42nd Dist.

Sen. Breene
Harimoto
D-16th Dist.

Rep. Aaron Ling

Johanson
D-31st Dist.

Sen. Gilbert S.C.

Keith-Agaran
D-5th Dist.

Rep. Jarrett
Keohokalole
D-48th Dist.

Sen. Michelle N.
Kidani
D-18th Dist.

Rep. Bertrand
Kobayashi
D-19th Dist.

Sen. Donna
Mercado Kim
D-14th Dist.

Rep. Lauren
Matsumoto
R-45th Dist.

Rep. John M.
Mizuno
D-28th Dist.

Rep. Takashi
Ohno
D-27th Dist.

Rep. Karl
Rhoads
D-29th Dist.

Sen. Russell E.
Ruderman
D-2nd Dist.

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Sen. Maile S.L.

Shimabukuro
D-21st Dist.

Rep. Gregg
Takayama
D-34th Dist.

Rep. Clift
Tsuji
D-2nd Dist.

Rep. Gene
Ward
R-17th Dist.

Rep. Cynthia
Thielen
R-50th Dist.

Sen. Laura H.
Thielen
D-25th Dist.

Sen. Jill N.
Tokuda
D-24th Dist.

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KEIKI CAUCUS RESOURCE GROUP

Abilities Unlimited
Active Hawaii Organization
ACTIVE Life Hawaii
Adult Friends for Youth
Aloha United Way
Alu Like, Inc.

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association of Hawaii

Bayada Habilitation

Blueprint for Change

Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii

Catholic Charities Hawaii

Child & Family Service of Hawaii

Children with Special Needs Coalition

Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii

Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii

Community Alliance on Prisons

Community Children's Council

Department of Education
Department of Health

Department of Human Services

Department of Parks and Recreation

Department of the Attorney General

Easter Seals Hawaii

Epic 'Ohana, Inc.

Executive Office on Early Learning

Ewa Makai Middle School Parent Community Center

Family Hui

Family Programs Hawaii

Good Beginnings Alliance

Hale Kipa

Hawaii Alliance for Community Based Economic

Development

Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations

Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic

Justice

Hawaii Arts Alliance

Hawaii Association for the Education of Young

Children

Hawaii Association of Independent Schools

Hawaii Autism Foundation

Hawaii Children's Discovery Center

Hawaii Community Foundation

Hawaii Council on Economic Education

Hawaii Families As Allies

Hawaii Government Employees Association

Hawaii Medical Service Association

Hawaii Meth Project

Hawaii Missing Kids

Hawaii Primary Care Association

Hawaii Public Health Institute
Hawaii Youth Services Network
Hawaiian Community Assets
Hawaii's Hearts
Healthy Hawaii Initiative
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of
Hawaii
Helping Hands Hawaii
Highway Inn
Hui for Excellence in Hawaii
IMUAlliance
INPEACE
Iolani Palace
Kama'aina Kids
Kamaka Green
Kamehameha Schools
Kanu Hawaii
Kapiolani Medical Center - Cardiac Kids Parent
Support Group
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and
Children
KEY Project
Kids Hurt Too Hawaii
Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services
Kusao & Kurahashi Inc.
Learning Disabilities Association of Hawaii
Loihi Communications
Malama of Na Keiki
March of Dimes
Maui Chamber of Commerce
Medical Home Works!
Mental Health America of Hawaii
Mililani Middle School PE Program
Missing Child Center Hawaii
NAMI Hawaii
National Association of Social Workers-Hawaii
Chapter
Natural Investments LLC
Nonie Toledo & Associates LLC
Nutrition Unlimited
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Office of Youth Services
Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery
Palama Settlement
PARENTS, Inc.
Parents and Child Together (PACT)
Parents for Public Schools Hawaii
Partners in Development Foundation
PHOCUSED Hawaii

Keiki Caucus Resource Group (cont.)

Planned Parenthood of Hawaii

Positive Moves Inc.
Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii
Public Access Room
Salvation Army
Special Parent Information Network
State Council on Developmental Disabilities
The Active Hawaii Organization
The Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance
The Hilopa'a Project

The Pacific American Foundation

The Salvation Army
UH Center on the Family
UH Manoa - Bridge to Hope
UH Manoa, JABSOM-Department of Psychiatry
University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii Foundation
University of Hawaii Pediatric Residency Program
Women Helping Women Maui
YMCA of Honolulu

Photos submitted by Keiki Caucus and Resource Members

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2016 Package
Newly Introduced 2016 Legislation
BILL NUMBER
SB2231
HB1789
SB2227
HB1786
SB2228
HB1781
SB2234
HB1788
SB2232
HB1782

SB2235
HB1787

SB2476
HB1780

SB2230
HB1784

DESCRIPTION
Relating to Afterschool Programs
Establishes the R.E.A.C.H. (Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture and
Health) program in the Office of Youth Services to provide a standardized
framework and funding for after-school programs in public middle schools.
Authorizes participating schools to collect fees.
Relating to Human Services
Makes an appropriation for subsidies for the preschool open doors program.
Relating to Beverages
Restricts the types of beverages that public schools and private
schools with state funding may sell to preschool students.
Relating to Child and Maternal Death Reviews
The purpose of this Act is to provide funding to the Hawaii Department of
Health as necessary and appropriate to reinstate the Hawaii Child Death
Review System and to further coordinate the performance of maternal death
reviews.
Relating to Education
Establishes a sexual abuse prevention instructional program for public
schools. Sets out guidelines of instruction. Modeled after Erin's law.
Relating to Education
Creates and appropriates funds for the Erin's Law task force to
guide the establishment of a program to educate public school
students on sexual abuse prevention through use of age
appropriate curricula; provide relevant training to school
teachers and staff; and inform parents about important child
sexual abuse topics.
Relating to Health
Establishes the early language acquisition program to assess and track
language development for children who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind. Requires the departments of health and education to collaborate in
the use of language assessments for children who are deaf, hard of hearing,
and deaf-blind when developing individualized family support plans and
individualized education plans in order to monitor language acquisition
progress and implement appropriate language acquisition strategies to
promote school readiness. Establishes the early language acquisition
advisory committee to solicit input from experts on the selection of
language developmental milestones. Makes an appropriation for the
establishment of language developmental milestones and the corresponding
parent resource and educator tools and assessments.
Related to Campaign Funds
Adds donations to private schools to the list of acceptable uses for campaign
funds

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2016 Package
Newly Introduced 2016 Legislation Continued
BILL NUMBER
SB2233
HB1783
SCR5
HCR5
SCR6
HCR6

DESCRIPTION
Relating to Youth
Allows minors who are twelve years of age or older to consent to outpatient
mental health services if, in the opinion of a professional person, the minor is
capable of participating responsibly in the mental health or counseling
services.
Concurrent Resolution
Requesting the convening of an early childhood sexual abuse working group
to address and reduce child sexual abuse in Hawaii.
Concurrent Resolution
Requesting the establishment of an Erins Law Task Force, to review current
policies, programs and curricula and making recommendations for the
establishment of a sexual abuse prevention instructional program for public
schools program;

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2016 Package
Carryover Keiki Caucus Priorities from 2015
BILL NUMBER
SB866 SD1
HB732

SB979 SD2 HD1

HB395 HD1

SB865 SD1

SB858
HB731

SB845
HB819 HD2 SD2

DESCRIPTION
Making an Appropriation to Support the Afterschool Plus Program
Appropriates moneys for the After-School Plus (A+) Program. Requires
DOE to submit a report to the legislature regarding efforts to address the
impact of increased minimum wage on the A+ Program and proposal to
assist families with A+ Program tuition.
Relating to Youth
Requires the office of youth services to coordinate a five-year safe places
for youth pilot program to establish a network of safe places where youth
can feel comfortable, welcomed and be able to access services and, in
some cases, safety. Establishes the position of safe places for youth
program coordinator. Allows youth under 18 years of age to consent to
services in the safe places program under certain circumstances. Makes
an appropriation. (SB979 SD2 HD1)
Relating to Bullying
Requires educational institutions and all youth-serving agencies to create
and implement anti-bullying policies. Establishes a bullying prevention
task force to provide guidance. Outlines the requirements for each
institution or agency's policy and specifies reporting, investigation, and
appeals procedures involving incidents of bullying. Provides immunity to
reporters of bullying in the event of a cause of action for damages arising
from the making of a report. Requires institutions and agencies to
establish annual bullying prevention programs for youth and to provide
bullying prevention training to all employees and volunteers who have
significant contact with youth. Requires institutions and agencies to
report aggregate figures regarding bullying to the governor and requires
the governor to report to the legislature regarding bullying and the
effectiveness of anti-bullying policies. Appropriates funds for anti-bullying
and suicide prevention efforts in the public schools.
Relating to Afterschool Programs for Elementary School Students
Establishes a five-year evidence-based physical-activity and nutritionaleducation pilot program within the A+ Program in Hawaii's public
elementary schools. Makes appropriations.
Relating to Bullying
Requires state and county agencies and grantees that serve youth to
adopt bullying prevention policies. Establishes a task force to assist the
Governor with bullying prevention policies in the State. Appropriates
funds.

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Bill Tracking
Hearing Notifications: sign up to receive notices via www.Capitol.Hawaii.Gov.
Click on Hearing Notification and create an account. Then select the committees
and measures you want to track.
View and Track Keiki Caucus Package Online: Go to www.Capitol.Hawaii.Gov.
Click on Reports and Lists then Measures by Package and select
Keiki Caucus.
Keiki Caucus Email List: email to be added to the notification list.

Legislative Calendar
10-Feb
10-Mar

Recess #3
First Crossover (Bills)

8-Apr
1-Apr
11-Apr

25-Feb

Mandatory 5-Day Recess

Begins

14-Apr

2-Mar

Mandatory 5-Day Recess

Ends

22-Apr

4-Mar
7-Mar
9-Mar
11-Mar
14-Mar
16-Mar
7-Apr

First Decking (Bills)

Recess #4
Recess #5
Substantive Reso Cutoff
Budget Decking
Budget Crossover
First Crossover
(Conc. Resos)

Second Decking
Recess #6
Recess #7
Second Crossover (Bills)
& Disagree
Constitutional Amendments

25-Apr

Second Crossover
(Conc. Resos)

28-Apr

Final Decking (Non-Fiscal

Bills)

29-May
13-Apr
2-May
5-May

Final Decking (Fiscal Bills)

Recess #8
Recess #9
Adjournment Sine Die

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Keiki Caucus Meetings

During Session (January-May): Meetings are held in conjunction with major
deadlines.
During Interim (May-December): Meetings are held monthly.
KEIKI CAUCUS PRESS CONFERENCE
Thursday, January 28, 2016
10:30am-11:00am
State Capitol Conference Room 414
TIMELINE
10:30am 10:35am
10:35am 10:40am
10:40am 10:45am
10:45am-10:50am
10:50am 10:55am
10:55am-11:00am

Welcome and Opening

Remarks
Brief History of Keiki Caucus
Bill to establish the R.E.A.C.H.
Initiative
(SB2231/HB1789)
Bill to Support the A+ Program
(SB866 SD1/HB732)
Bill to fund the Preschool
Open Doors Program
(SB2227/HB1786)
Bill to Restrict Unhealthy
Beverages from Schools
(SB2228/HB1781)
Closing Remarks and
Questions & Answers

Sen. Chun Oakland

Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui
Paula Adams,
Hawaii Afterschool Alliance
Deborah Zysman,
Hawaii Childrens Action
Network
Rep. Cynthia Thielen
Moderated by Sen. Chun
Oakland

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Photos submitted by Keiki Caucus and Resource Members

Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, Convener

Hawaii State Capitol, Room 226
Phone: (808) 586-6130 Fax: (808) 586-6131
Email: senchunoakland@capitol.hawaii.gov Web: www.capitol.hawaii.gov

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