Hawaii's 2015 Legislative Session is Just Around the Corner

The 2015 legislative session kicks off in just a few days and with your help we plan to make it a big year for Heart and Stroke legislation!

We want to make Hawaii a healthier place for everyone and have some important issues on the table:

Improved Stroke Care - We are asking the state to require all acute stroke care hospitals to participate in a stroke registry, operated by the State Department of Health to gather data to be used to optimize Hawaii’s stroke system of care.
 

Tobacco Control – Hawaii was one of the first states to pass a clean indoor air law. We want to expand the current law to include e-cigarettes so that the indoor air we breathe is not polluted by these new tobacco products. The AHA will support state efforts to raise the age for legal purchase of tobacco products to 21. We will also defend against efforts to divert money from the State Tobacco Prevention and Control Fund (the fund established from the State’s legal settlement with the tobacco industry from damages caused by its products) from their intended use—community tobacco prevention, control and cessation services. 

Obesity Prevention – We will continue laying the groundwork for establishing a 1-cent per ounce fee on sugar-sweetened beverages. Revenue derived from the fee would be designated to fund obesity prevention and control in our state.

CPR in Schools – We are continuing our efforts with the State Department of Education to implement policy that would require all high school students receive CPR training as part of their health class (which is already a required class for students).

Newborn Heart Screening (Pulse Oximetry) – We made progress on this issue last year and hope to achieve final passage into law this year. Pulse Oximetry screening is a non-invasive screening that can detect congenital heart defects. We want all newborns to receive this screening before they are discharged from their birthing center.

We hope we can count on you for your continued support in the upcoming legislative session. We could not do the work we do without your help. Keep an eye open for our emails, follow our policy updates by “liking” the American Heart Association Facebook site, and take action when you are able.