Surf, sand, and Duke...no butts allowed

Representative Tom Brower, D-23 (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako), introduced a bill this session that would require beachgoers who smoke cigarettes to get off the sand before lighting up. House Bill 1509, which prohibits smoking on the beaches of Waikiki from the shore break to the sidewalk of private property line, is scheduled to be heard by the House Health Committee Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 8:30 a.m.

"More needs to be done to protect one of our island's precious beaches from litter," said Rep. Brower. "I'm looking forward to the discussion this bill will create as we try to find ways to enhance tourism, improve health, and preserve the beauty of our islands."

According to the present language of the bill, smoking would be allowed on sidewalks. The intention of the bill is to make Waikiki beaches smoke-free and thwart beachgoers from smoking near the ocean water and on the sand. Twenty-nine members of the House of Representatives have signed in support of the bill.

Interested in submitting testimony? Contact Rep. Brower's office for more information at 586-8520.

You can view the bill here: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/bills/HB1509_.pdf

Info. Briefings for Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Subject: Governor Linda Lingle's Revised Financial Plan
Committee: Joint Senate Committee on Ways and Means (chair: Sen. Donna Mercado Kim) and House Committee on Finance (chair: Rep. Marcus Oshiro)
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Place: Auditorium, Hawaii State Capitol

At their January 9, 2009 meeting, the Council on Revenues revised revenue projections for fiscal years 2009, 2010 and 2011. As a result, the projected budget shortfall will increase by about $630 million. This brings the total projected revenue shortfall to $1.8 billion by June 30, 2011. Budget Director, Georgina Kawamura, will brief lawmakers on Governor Linda Lingle's revised financial plan.

Subject: Rules of the House of Reps
Committee: Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures (chair: Rep. Blake Oshiro)
Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Place: Conference Room 437, Hawaii State Capitol

2008 House Rules

2nd Vog Effects Briefing: The Impact of Vog on Ag

This briefing will be cablecast live on Olelo, Channel 49.

The House Special Committee on VOG Effects will meet Thursday in Room 325 at the Capitol for the second of a series of briefings. The meeting tomorrow will focus on the impact of VOG on Hawaii's agricultural operations. The discussion will include the effects of VOG on crops and ways to assist farmers.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The effects of the VOG have severely impacted the Big Island farming community, operationally and financially. The briefing will include information on how farmers can protect their crops and on resources available to help farmers mitigate future crop loss.

The following have been invited to participate in this fact-finding meeting:

U.S. Department of Agriculture	Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
National Weather Service	Big Island Farm Bureau
Hawaii Department of Agriculture	Hawaii Agriculture Research Center
UH College of Tropical Agriculture	Kona Pacific Farmers Coop
UH at Hilo College of Agricultural	Big Island Protea Growers Assoc.
Forestry and Natural Resource Mgmt.	County of Hawaii Research and Dev.

Health committee not too sweet on artificial sugar ban bill

Although Rep. Josh Green (D-North Kona) sympathized with supporters who have been affected by the artificial sweetener aspartame, he was unable to immediately pass a bill that would ban the artificial sweetener aspartame in food products without concrete evidence showing a connection between aspartame and medical ailments. We can't take numerous amounts of products off Hawaii store shelves without evidence of a connection, he said. Banning aspartame would be a major policy change, affecting many corporations and the market. Rep. Gene Ward (R-Hawaii Kai) said that putting a total ban on aspartame in July 2008 would be difficult and nearly impossible. Huge bans like this would need a phasing out process, he said. Decision making was deferred until Feb. 13, 2008. Rep. Green said that he is open to supporters providing more detailed and solid information about the connection between aspartame and health problems before decision making.

The Honolulu Advertiser covered the hearing.

Medical marijuana bill changes not yet ready

 A decision on a medical marijuana bill that we blogged about in a previous post was supposed to be made today, but the health committee chair deferred the measure until next Wednesday. Work is still in progress to create an effective vehicle that would help patients get better access to the medicine. Neither HB2675 nor HB2434 will be passed as is; however, the Committee on Health will make a decision next week about the future of a revised measure whose "primary concern is access for people who are sick."

Update on pilot program for ECG equipment

HB2063, a bill establishing a two-year pilot project to equip paramedics to transmit ECG data from ambulances, was passed out of Health today with amendments. For more information on the bill, refer to a previous post. The committee moved to amend the bill by creating a task force of different and informed members in hopes of working out the specifics and need of the project.

2 bills jailed, others pass go in Health hearing

Passed out of Health

Prohibiting dentists from working in big box stores (HB2301)
Testimony in support of the bill claimed that practices in big box stores have no control over the facility. Dentists are not able to attend to patient needs 24 hours a day. Although they can make house visits for some situations like some medical doctors do, they wouldn't be able to attend to serious events that would require access to specific equipment. Supporters of the bill repeated frequently that dentists have an obligation to serve their patients and practices in big box corporation can't fulfill this obligation under third party regulations. The Health Committee passed the bill for more discussion. Rep. Josh Green, committee chair, recognized that dentist practices in commercial arenas lack 24 hour availability, but also said that the bill seems to target big box stores such as Wal-Mart and Cosco, and that the advertising provision seems problematic.

More money for TB treatment (HB2118)
This measure passed with an amendment proposed by the Attorney General's Office changing language in regards to the administrator of the funds.

Money wanted for epilepsy assistance (HB2286)
This measure, which would create a fund to help epilepsy victims and families, and create a committee to make recommendation for a treatment and education program, was passed with amendments that will add a task force and change and tighten language.

Center for Nursing asks for continual funding from nurses (HB2134, HD1)
While some nurses are opposed to a bill that would require them to pay a $40 fee each time they renew their nursing license, the Board of Nursing supports the funding of the Center for Nursing in order to continue efforts to alleviate nursing shortage in Hawaii. The Health Committee passed the bill extending the sunset date by only one year. Rep. Green said that although $40 may not seem like a lot of money, it shouldn't be coming from the pockets of Hawaii nurses. The Center for Nursing has proven its worth to the community, he said, and the State should start helping financially.

Keeping mental health counselors (HB2566)
This bill would repeal sunset provisions for Chapter 453D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to mental health counselors. The chair agreed with the testimony in support of this bill and passed it out of health.

Tax credits for long-term care facilities (HB2171, HD1)
Although recognizing the points of the opposition, the health chair passed this bill that he said is prudent in addressing the shortage of long-term care facilities. Rep. Gene Ward said that if there is anyway to provide more beds for long-term care than it should be done. The bill does not need to be heard by another committee.

Name of medical board (HB2169, HD1)
With no opposing testimony, the bill that would change the "Board of Medical Examiners" to the "Hawaii Medical Board" was passed out of health.

Jury exemptions for practicing psychologists (HB2385)
Rep. Josh Green recommended passing this bill because although psychologists are not medical doctors they are still health care providers with huge work loads. Rep. Karl Rhoads (D-Downtown) voted with reservation on this recommendation because he believes that no one should have jury duty exemptions because. Rep. Karen Awana (D-Nanakuli) and Rep. Rida Cabanilla (D-Ewa) also voted with reservations.


Held indefinitely

False advertising = sanctioned dental license (HB2298)
This measure, which was vetoed last year by the governor, was deferred indefinitely on the recommendation of the chair because he claimed that it was not ready as opinions have not changed yet.

Informing patients of mercury effects (HB2286)
Rep. Green deferred the bill indefinitely because of insufficient evidence by public officials and experts attesting to the possible negative effects of vaccines containing any amount of mercury.

This week's hearings/briefings...

Thursday, September 13th

Info Briefing on the State's economic outlook and a report from the Council on Revenues. 10:00 A.M. at the State Capitol Auditorium. House Finance/Senate Ways and Means Informational Briefing. State economist Pearl Imada Iboshi and Carl Bonham, Exec. Director of the UH Economic Research Organization (UHERO) will present their outlook for Hawaii's economy. Also, Paul Brewbaker, Chair of the State Council on Revenues, will elaborate on the latest projections from the COR.

Smart Growth Task Force Meeting. 10:00 A.M., State Capitol, Room 325.

Friday, September 14th

Bureau of Conveyances Joint Investigative Hearing. 10:00 A.M., State Capitol, Room 325. The committee will receive subpoenaed documents from Title Guaranty of Hawaii, and receive testimony from Bradford Ishida, Fidelity National Title.