Lawmakers to take up mental health, airline seats
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaii lawmakers will look at a resolution that asks the federal government to set limits on how small airline seats can get.
Hawaii lawmakers will return from a long holiday weekend to tackle a slew of resolutions and bills in committee hearings.
They’ll take up one resolution about driving under the influence of marijuana and another asking the federal government to set limits on how small airline seats can get.
Lawmakers are also looking at ways to address a shortage of mental health services for teenagers. And they’re hearing proposals on ways to help homeless female veterans and pedestrians.
Here’s a look at what legislative committees will tackle in the upcoming week.
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DRIVING HIGH
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How much weed can a person smoke and still drive safely? Hawaii law currently bans people from driving if they’re under the influence of a drug that impairs their ability to drive. But there’s no set threshold for how much marijuana is acceptable in the blood stream. Now that Hawaii is setting up a new medical marijuana dispensary system, lawmakers are expecting more people to have access to the drug. A House resolution — HCR97 — asks the Department of Health to conduct a study to figure out whether a person can or can’t safely operate a car while under the influence of marijuana. A House committee will take up the resolution Monday.
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TEEN MENTAL HEALTH
Also Monday, lawmakers in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health are considering a resolution to ask the state to audit the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, which provides mental health services to minors in the state. The resolution, SCR140, says that legislators have major concerns about the lack of residential treatment programs on neighbor island. Right now, there are only two mental health facilities for teens in the state, both of which are on Oahu.
On Tuesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee is hearing a bill, SB2886, to lower the age of consent from 18 to 12 for teens to receive mental health services such as counseling. Center for Disease Control data shows Hawaii is in the top 10 for states with the highest suicide attempt rates for teens.
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CRAMPED AIRLINE SEATS
Many air travelers are getting fed up with the amount of space they have during their flights. Citing a growing problem with obesity and gradually shrinking airline seats, some Hawaii lawmakers want to urge the Secretary of Transportation to set minimum standards for seat size. A resolution — SR 121 — will be heard in two Senate committees Tuesday.
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CROSSING THE ROAD
Pedestrians in Honolulu sometimes feel like they’re taking a risk just crossing the road. A House bill — HB32 — clarifies that a pedestrian is in a crosswalk when any portion of their body, wheelchair or cane is in the crosswalk. The Honolulu Police Department says making that distinction would help them enforce when vehicles violate the right of way. That bill will be heard in a Senate committee Monday.
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HOMELESS VETERANS
Female veterans are one of the fastest growing homeless populations in the nation, and state officials say it’s no different in Hawaii. On Monday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee will consider HB2489, which would help provide more services to female veterans. The bill would create and fund a full-time counselor position in the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services with a focus on female veterans who served in active duty.
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DIGITAL SCHOOLING
A bill to increase the use of technology in Hawaii public schools — SB2267 — is also being considered Tuesday in the Senate money committee. It would allow public schools to use money allocated for traditional curricular materials such as textbooks on digital formats like electronic books. In its original form, the bill would have given $12.8 million to help buy electronic schools supplies, but lawmakers blanked out the amount in the most current draft.
17 responses to “Lawmakers to take up mental health, airline seats”
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Airline seats??? Really? Next thing you know they will want to have snacks and nap times… oh, sorry, they already did that one. LOL
That is a valid concern. Airlines will keep making the seating so cramped until people are sitting on each other’s lap. Some airlines are pushing for stand-up passage, like a subway.
People won’t put up with it and the airlines will suffer.
BuhByeAloha – Urban legend, pure shibai on airlines looking at stand-up passengers. Completely unsafe in case of an accident, sudden air turbulence, emergency landings. It will never happen.
You fail to remember what is the first thing the pilot says when they hit air turbulence. “Please take your seats, use your seat belt.
Quit spreading shibai.
In 2010, Ryanair (a European carrier based in Dublin) CEO Michael O’Leary proposed that it might be a low-cost alternative on short-haul flights. The idea was quickly shot down, Boeing wanted no part of it either. Around the same time, a new Chinese budget airline proposed a similar idea. Even the Chinese government thought it was dumb and shot it down.
Our do nothing legislature comes up with bogus story to get public’s attention on how ridiculous they are supposedly legislating. this will result in nothing and nothing will be done, oh, they’ll put it on hold for the next bogus story. And “we the people keep voting these same people in office.”
They sure have a lot of long holiday weekends.
We are better off when they are on holidays and not making stupid laws. Make the holiday permanent.
I agree, least it wont cost me more money.
control planes’ seat size definitely needed. flew a lot in the 1970s very comfortably. flew a lot in the 2000s very uncomfortable.
I sat between two fat people couple of time. They almost broke my hip.
That is the bottom line and the real problem. People are just getting too fat! 2/3 of the population is overweight. I would imagine at least 1/4 are obese. Look around.
Lawmakers are taking up space.
Lawmakers are taking up space.
If they are going to change the crosswalk law, the police need to enforce the jaywalking laws. You ever try to turn right onto Bishop from King. Pedestrians always jaywalking.
At $54.00 per ticket, Hawaiian covers all their expenses and makes a good profit. This is testimony given by Hawaiian executives at a meeting with legislators in 2008. Anything garnered over that amount is pure greed. No other airline will enter this market. It’s too small to make a decent profit. No airline is in the business of doing Hawaii residents a financial favor. Only way to bring prices down is to regulate Hawaiian. Just like Young Brothers. Just like HECO.
Not one thing of substance.
However, they did manage to get a couple of bigger government bills in there.