HSAC Legislators of the Year

Congratulations to Rep. Marcus Oshiro and Senate President Shan Tsutsui for both being named"Legislator of the Year" by the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC).

The awards were presented yesterday at the Grand Wailea Resort on Maui where HSAC held their annual meeting for 2011.

Rep. Oshiro shares a laugh with Maui County Council Chair Danny Mateo after presenting "omiyage" from Oahu - plastic bags. The Maui County Council voted to ban plastic bags last year, effective January 2011, and they have now become a rarity on Maui. Guess it's working!

HSAC Legislative Package 2011

The Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) is meeting on Maui today and tomorrow. We thought it would be a good time to check on the HSAC legislative package for 2011 and see how those bills fared this year. HSAC submitted a package of proposals to the 2011 legislature containing six House bills, two House resolutions, six Senate bills, and one Senate resolution. Click to view the HSAC bills here.

One bill, SB1025, CD1 passed the legislature and has been enrolled to the Governor. Next Monday, June 27th, the Governor is scheduled to release his notice of intention to veto certain bills. He then has 10 days to either sign or veto a bill; if he does nothing, the bill becomes law without his signature.

SB1025, introduced by Senator Tsutsui by request, does two major things: 1) It adds the assault of firefighters and water safety officers to the offense of assault in the second degree. 2) It creates a class B felony for unauthorized entry in a dwelling based on the occupants age and incapacity.