March 2010 Legislative Update

Aloha! Here is an updated list of the bills I am supporting:


Education

. HB 200 HD1 SD2 CD1(2009) and HB 2200 (2010), the state budget, has $3 mil for
land, design & construction for LCC/Wai'anae Educ. Ctr.; $24 mil for UH West Oahu
. HB 2486 sets a minimum number of instructional hours per school year for each grade
. SB 2124 appropriates $$ from Hurricane Relief Fund to restore remaining school
instructional days for 2009-'10 & 2010-'11 school years
. SB 2589 requires DOE to make available vacant school facilities for charter school use
. SB 2797 extends VEBA —a health plan for public school teachers—to July 1, 2012

Health

. HB 2085 sets limits on requests for proposals from providers for QUEST
contracts exceeding $100 mil & commencing after agency director's terms expires
. HB 2208 requires health insurers to promptly pay claims for Medicaid services
. SB 2469 appropriates funds from Emergency & Budget Reserve Fund ("Rainy
Day") for Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC)
. SB 2490 appropriates $$ from Community Health Centers Special Fund to be used by
community health centers statewide
. SB 1309 appropriates funds for emergency services at WCCHC
. HCR 176/HR 111(SCR178/SR79) urges Hawaii Health Systems Corp hospitals &
clinics to accept medical student rotations from programs based at WCCHC and UH.
. HCR 179/HR114 (SCR 179/SR80) requests development of proposed legislation
mandating size & extent of a managed care plan's specialty network

Human Services

. HB 1642 specifies that proposals for purchases of health & human services must be
submitted by licensed providers and for exact amount to be expended by the state
. SB 2368 permits family court to allow visitation to grandparents if denial would cause
significant harm to the child
. HCR 219/HR 148 directs DHS to stop proposed reorganization of benefits, employ-
ment, support services & Medquest Div until legislative task force evaluates proposal


Housing

. Congressional appropriations for FY'10, as submitted by Rep. Mazie Hirono, include
funding for Maili Self-Help Housing
. HB 2132 requires notice of intent to foreclosure that includes notice of
availability of mortgage counseling.
. HCR 262 (SCR 206) requests establishment of Wai'anae Coast Homelessness Task
Force to develop a comprehensive plan to address needs of homeless

Energy & Environment

. HB 1808 requires maintenance of beach accesses by adjacent landowners & imposes
penalties for noncompliance; establishes shoreline access policy
. HB 2239 ends exemption for dietary supplements in deposit beverage container law
. HB 2644 applies solid waste disposal surcharge to waste that is shipped out-of-state
. SB 2231 exempts electric vehicles & vehicle charging systems from general excise tax
. SB 2559 requires businesses to collect a 5-cent fee for each plastic or paper disposable
checkout bag provided to a customer

Consumer Protection

. HB 2642 (SB 2809) appropriates funds to reorganize Public Utilities Commission &
Division of Consumer Advocacy, helping state transition to clean energy economy
. HB 2921(SB 2837) revises requirements for licensing electricians and plumbers
. SB 707 lets Director of Commerce & Consumer Affairs designate an access organi-
zation to oversee public, educational & governmental channels on cable television

Hawaiian

. HB 674 provides funds to "Ho'okulaiwi," a culturally based program to train UH
students that wish to teach in rural areas such as the Wai'anae Coast.
. HB 1818 requires Dept of Public Safety to establish a reintegration pilot program that
combines cognitive behavioral theory with Native Hawaiian holistic interventions
. HCR 327HR 246 urges counties to adopt Native Hawaiian building codes

Public Safety

. HB 1987 establishes cause of action to abate illegal purchasing, selling, possession &
setting off of fireworks; increases penalties for illegal use
. SB 2045 establishes class A, B & C felony sexual human trafficking and labor
trafficking offenses and provides for prosecution of offenses
. SB 2183, relating to domestic abuse, allows a temporary restraining order to remain in
effect for 90 days or until protective order is served



Transportation

. HB 2200 HD1 (Budget) includes $12.5 mil for construction on Farrington Hwy
for congestion relief and safety improvements between Honokai Hale and Hakimo Rd;
$3.5 mil for Farrington Hwy drainage improvements vicinity of Orange St, Makaha
$3.5 million for replacement of bridges on Farrington Hwy near Makaha Beach Park
. Federal Stimulus Funds $1.5 mil for dredging Wai'anae Small Boat Harbor channel


Agriculture

. HB 2290 protects agriculturally suitable lands on Oahu & provides for mandatory
extension of agricultural leases
. HB 2421 provides inidtiatives & funds to promote energy and food self-sufficiency
. HB 2832 authorizes OHA to seek funds for projects that increase cultivation of taro
. SB 2780 protects agriculturally suitable lands on Oahu (includes Ho'opili & Koa
Ridge); provides for mandatory extension of agricultural leases


Economic Development

. HB 2382 establishes digital media enterprise subzones surrounding UH campuses and
gives tax benefits for developing infrastructure within these zones
. HB 2643 establishes clean energy loan program for energy efficiency improvements on
residential and commercial enterprises


Capital Improvements

HB 1640 (2009) provides for funding of numerous school, health, transportation and recreational projects in House District 45 (Wai'anae/Makaha/Makua)
HB 2616 (2010) funds the following District 45 projects: Farrington Hwy drainage improvements near Orange St., Makaha ($3.5 mil … also in budget bill, HB 2200 HD1); E Ala Voyaging Canoe Education Ctr ($3 mil); UH West Oahu Phase I construct ($3 mil)