Bill Text: HI HB979 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Gender-based Analysis Training.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [HB979 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB979-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	979
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO GENDER-BASED ANALYSIS TRAINING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The threat to women's equality no longer resides in overtly discriminatory statutes.  Today, policies, plans, and programs that appear gender-neutral continue to impede women's equality.  As a result, during the COVID-19 pandemic, women in Hawaii have suffered increased physical insecurity, economic distress, job losses, mental health strain, reproductive oppression, and sexual exploitation.  Decision-makers should be equipped by the State to counteract deterioration to women's political, economic, and social status as a result of the crisis.

     The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg demonstrated the importance of incorporating a gender perspective to correct inherent discriminatory bias against women in the law.  The Hawaii state commission on the status of women is an important institution to improve and address gender inequality within government and community-based organizations.  The State can mature its efforts to tackle cultural and structural barriers to gender equality by implementing the successful gender-based analysis training model that has been adopted by the Canadian national government.  Providing gender-based analysis training across all government departments and agencies will lead Hawaii to become the first state in the nation to integrate a gender lens throughout state government, which would enable departments and agencies to develop, renew, and assess policies, legislation, and regulations that are sensitive to the different impacts that decisions can have on men, women, and gender non-conforming people.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish the gender-based analysis training program to be known as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg legacy training program to be administered by the Hawaii state commission on the status of women.

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Legacy Training Program Act.

     SECTION 3.  Section 367-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§367-3  Powers and duties of commission.  The commission shall:

     (1)  Act as a central clearinghouse and coordinating body for governmental and nongovernmental activities and information relating to the status of women;

     (2)  Create public awareness and understanding of the responsibilities, needs, potentials, and contributions of women and their roles in the changing society;

     (3)  Recommend legislative and administrative action on equal treatment and opportunities for women;

     (4)  Encourage a long-range program of education of women in their political rights and responsibilities, particularly with respect to their voting duties;

     (5)  Maintain contacts with appropriate federal, state, local, and international agencies concerned with the status of women;

     (6)  Cooperate and collaborate with national groups on the status of women and arrange for participation by representatives of the State in White House conferences and other national conferences from time to time;

     (7)  Administer funds allocated for its work; be authorized to accept, disburse, and allocate funds that may become available from other governmental and private sources; provided that all such funds shall be disbursed or allocated in compliance with any specific designation stated by the donor and in the absence of such specific designation, such funds shall be disbursed or allocated on projects related to any of the purposes of this chapter; [and]

     (8)  Submit an annual report with recommendations to the governor and the legislature[.]; and

     (9)  Provide biannual gender-based analysis training to the following:

          (A)  Director and deputy directors of each state department;

          (B)  Director and deputy directors of each attached agency;

          (C)  Chair of each state board and commission;

          (D)  Appointing authorities for state boards and commissions;

          (E)  Mayor or the mayor's designee of each county; and

          (F)  Managing director of each county.

          For purposes of this paragraph, "gender-based analysis training" means a curriculum for government officials to understand how gender is an essential determinant of policy and program outcomes, and to ensure that decision making considers and reflects the diverse needs of women."

SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

 

 

Report Title:

Gender-based Analysis Training

 

Description:

Requires the Commission on the Status of Women to provide biannual gender-based analysis training to government officials.

 

 

 

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