Bill Text: HI HR178 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urging The Honolulu Star-advertiser To Provide Next-of-kin Information Within Free Death Notices.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-13 - Referred to CPC, FIN, referral sheet 39 [HR178 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HR178-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	178
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the honolulu Star-Advertiser to provide next-of-kin information within free death notices.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Americans prefer local newspapers as their main source of local news, according to a 2017 survey from the National Newspaper Association; and

 

     WHEREAS, newspapers are the top source for news on various local topics including community events, crime, taxes, local government, arts and culture, social services, zoning and development, and are tied for the top source on housing, schools, jobs, and local political news, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, in conjunction with the Knight Foundation; and

 

     WHEREAS, further, newspapers fulfill an important function by publishing announcements of individuals' passings; and

 

     WHEREAS, these announcements:

 

     (1)  Inform relatives, acquaintances, friends, coworkers, and others that an individual with whom they had a valued relationship has passed;

 

     (2)  Inform the public of any mourning or celebration of life ceremonies; and

 

     (3)  May be used by human resource services to verify and allow leave for bereavement for family members and time off for staff and personnel wishing to attend mourning services; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser is the only newspaper on Oahu, online and in print, that publishes these important announcements; and

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has bifurcated their announcements into two categories:

 

     (1)  Death Notices, which are free, basic announcements limited to the deceased individual's name, age, gender, area of residence, date of passing, and information regarding any services; and

 

     (2)  Family Placed Obituaries and Featured, which are announcements that are paid per column inch per day and may include more details about the deceased individual, such as kinship listings; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's "Ohana" society is based upon the close relationships individuals form with family, coworkers, classmates, and others; and

 

     WHEREAS, the kinship listing allows readers to recognize those in their community that will be entering bereavement and verify whether they know the deceased individual; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Honolulu Star-Advertiser is urged to include immediate next-of-kin information within free death notices; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that funeral homes in Hawaii are urged to assist in gathering next-of-kin information to be included in free death notices when the funeral home communicates with family members of the deceased; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of Oahu Publications, Inc. and Editor of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Honolulu Star Advertiser; Obituaries; Next-of-Kin