Civil Beat: ‘Sex on Campus — When Yes Means Yes’

Update 2/11/15: See the 2/10/15 announcement from David Lassner, UH President, at the end of this post.

[Note: SB387 is supported by the Women’s Legislative Caucus, and they’ve given Senator Shimabukuro the opportunity to be its first primary sponsor. The following are excerpts from Denby Fawcett’s Sex on Campus — When ‘Yes Means Yes’, Civil Beat, 10 Feb. 2015. -js]

Bills are advancing at the Legislature (HB 451 and SB 387) to urge UH, when addressing reports of sexual violence, to apply a standard of affirmative consent to determine if what happened was consensual sex or sexual assault or rape.

The affirmative consent bills are part of an effort to require the university to improve how it handles sexual assault, domestic abuse and other sexual violence issues reported by students, faculty and staff. Each measure says improve or else lose state funding.

This comes at a time when the University of Hawaii at Manoa is one of 55 colleges and universities under federal review for the way they deal with reports of sexual harassment and other sex crimes.

The investigation led by the U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Office was launched to make sure the educational institutions are in compliance with sexual violence reporting and discipline requirements mandated by the Violence Against Woman Reauthorization Act signed by President Obama in 2013.

If colleges and universities fail to follow the law, they stand to lose federal funding.

Affirmative consent bills moving forward in the state House and Senate are a priority of the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus and the Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women. 

Valentine’s Day ‘Aina Bar Special

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Waianae High Grad & 9/11 Hero Isaac Hoopii Hosts Senator Shimabukuro at The Pentagon

In December 2014, Senator Shimabukuro was given a tour of the Pentagon by Isaac Hoopii.  Hoopii grew up in Waianae, and is a proud graduate of Waianae High School.  He now serves as a Sergeant for the Pentagon Police, and among other things, specializes in training its police dogs.  Sgt. Hoopii received the Congressional Medal for Valor for his heroic role in saving lives when the Pentagon was attacked on September 11, 2011.  Sgt. Hoopii is also a member of The Aloha Boys, which plays Hawaiian music in the Washington, D.C. area.

Additional stories about Sgt. Isaac Hoopii:

• CNN.com: Pentagon cop reunites with man he directed to safety on 9/11 (09/11/02)
• Honolulu Star-Bulletin: The Pentagon Officer (09/11/02)
• On Patrol Magazine: Isaac Hoopii (Winter 2014-2015)

Special thanks to Senator Ron Kouchi of Kauai and his wife Joy for arranging the tour.

In December 2014, Sen. Shimabukuro was given a tour of the Pentagon by Waianae High graduate and 9/11 hero, Sgt. Isaac Hoopii.
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Sgt. Hoopii received the Congressional Medal for Valor for his heroic role in saving lives when the Pentagon was attacked on September 11, 2011.
Click image to enlarge.

Legislative Alert – Gun Revocation Bill (SB783) Scheduled for Senate Hearing: Thursday, February 12, 2015

Legislation introduced by Senator Shimabukuro has been scheduled for a joint hearing before the Senate Senate Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs.

Thursday, February 12, 2015, 2:45 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 229
415 South Beretania Street

SB783 specifies that an additional penalty for refusal to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test and requires the surrender of all firearms and ammunition within possession. Requires firearms permit application forms to be accompanied by an affirmation that neither the applicant nor any family or household member is or has been diagnosed with or treated for certain mental disorders and that if the applicant or family or household member is subsequently diagnosed, the applicant shall lock and secure or surrender all firearms and ammunition within 48 hours. Requires payment of a fine of $50 per day of noncompliance with the requirement to lock and secure, or surrender, firearms and ammunition within 48 hours. Specifies failure to pay child or spousal support as a good cause for revocation of a firearm permit or license. Creates an exemption for law enforcement officers.

For more information on SB783, including bill text and to submit testimony, click here for bill status.

The deadline to submit testimony is Wednesday, February 11, 2015, at 2:45 p.m.

Although late testimony can be submitted on the day of the hearing, testimony submitted less than 24 hours prior to the hearing may not be posted online or distributed to the committee prior to the convening of the public hearing. In-person testimony is also accepted for those present during the hearing.