HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE PASSES CONSERVATIVE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET

The House Finance Committee today passed out a proposed supplemental budget that continues a fiscal conservative framework focused on increasing transparency in the budget process and enabling the state to spend more efficiently. 

HB1700 appropriates an additional $1.19 billion for operating and capital improvement costs of the Executive Branch for FY2017, bringing the budget total to $7.08 billion for the second year of the biennium.  There were no changes for FY2016 in the supplemental budget.  

The bill includes funds for Transient Oriented Development, sexual abuse victims services, and the transfer of the Maui Health Systems to Kaiser Foundation Hospital.  The proposed budget also includes monies from general obligation bonds and all other means of financing for capital improvement projects (CIP), including:

$675,317,000 in general obligation bonds for FY2016

$1,172,952,000 in general obligation bonds for FY2017

$1,642,156,000 in all means of financing funds for FY2016

$2,834,919,000 in all means of financing funds for FY2017

“We started several years ago to look for ways to make state government more efficient and to create a mindset for the state to spend within its means as a matter of consistent practice,” said Representative Sylvia Luke (Makiki, Punchbowl, Nuuanu, Dowsett Highlands, Pacific Heights, Pauoa), House Finance Chair. 

“One of the primary ways to achieve this end was for us to get a more accurate accounting of what the needs of our departments were, especially when it came to manpower.  What we found were issues relating to hard-to-fill vacancies and vacation payouts for retirees clouding a clear picture of what those needs were.

“In the case of longstanding vacancies of two years or more, we are asking the departments to reassess the positions to see why they are so hard to fill.  If we need to be more competitive with the private sector to attract quality employees, then we need to consider that,” Luke said.

Luke also said that, in the past, departments have assumed the cost of vacation compensations for retirees as part of their operating budget, which further clouded the true cost of operations. 

“So we’ve asked the departments to be more forthcoming in identifying those costs so that we can account for them.  Since implementing this new ‘truth in budgeting’ policy, I believe we have made the process more transparent and, in the long run, will lead to making state government more efficient,” Luke said.

The budget bill goes to the full House next week for its consideration.

Funding highlights include:

Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS)

 Funding for critical statewide personnel system support and Office of Elections improvements

·         $319,190 for additional support for payroll processing

·         $356,000 ($702,668 add for FY16 and FY17) for the Office of Elections to establish an online statewide voter registration system

Department of Agriculture

Funding for diversified agriculture

·         $211,445 to support efforts to promote diversified agriculture

Department of the Attorney General

Funding for sexual assault victim services and computer system upgrades

·         $85,000 to remain a member of the Open Justice Broker Consortium, which provides free programming hours to continue building Hawaii Integrated Justice Information Sharing Program, a wide-ranging state of the art information hub

·         $160,000 to equip deputy attorneys general with upgraded computers

·         $380,000 to fund statewide sexual assault victims services

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT)

Funding to foster domestic economic growth and international economic relations

·         $250,000 for domestic economic development including:

o   $100,000 for an executive assistant to the DBEDT director, to aid in projects including the Hawaii Broadband Initiative;

o   $92,386 for a Transit-Oriented Development Coordinator to assist with statewide planning along the rail line;

o   $60,000 for a planner position to update the Hawaii State Plan.

·         $190,000 to foster Hawaii’s foreign relations:

·         $90,000 to support operations for the Beijing and Taipei state offices;

·         $100,000 for fostering sister-state relationships

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Funds for computer system upgrades

·         $500,000 for new Management Systems Application to track and monitor newer types of financial instruments.  The new system will be compatible with nation-wide clearing houses.

Department of Defense

Funding to support National Guard, Air National Guard and Civil Defense priorities

·         $549,592 to continue funding for the joint base Pearl Harbor Hickam

·         $642,644 to switch burial services for the Office of Veteran Services from contract to in-house

·         $500,000 to staff Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency

Department of Education (DOE)

Funding for critical needs affecting all schools in the DOE

·         $2,000,000 for worker's compensation

·         $6,984,689 to transport general and special education students safely to and from school

·         $5,215,919 for DOE utility payments

·         $387,210 to ensure that every state public library has a security presence

·         $500,000 for bonuses to teachers working in hard to staff schools

Department of Health (DOH)

Funding for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, as well as investments in DOH's IT infrastructure

·         $21,000,000 for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to maintain current levels of critical healthcare services, particularly on the neighbor islands

·         $10,000,000 in working capital and $6,000,000 in capital projects for the first year operations of Maui Health System, a Kaiser Foundation Hospital, LLC

·         $3,660,000 to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division and the Developmental Disability Division to develop a data tracking and analytics solution to better control costs, manage care, and track outcomes

·         $1,745,818 to the Women, Infants, and Children program to implement a new Management Information System, as well as design an Electronic Benefit Transfer food delivery system

Department of Human Services

Funding will go to training for SNAP recipients and social workers, as well as preschool and after school program subsidies for low-income working families

·         $6,000,000 for Preschool Open Doors to provide preschool subsidies on a sliding scale for low to moderate income families

·         $770,000 in additional after school program subsidies for employed low-income families

·         Over $400,000 to educate and train 20 social workers annually

·         Over $500,000 in a partnership with UH community colleges to help educate and train SNAP recipients

Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Funds allocated for new positions to ensure compliance with Worker’s Compensation, Temporary Disability Insurance, and Prepaid Health Care Laws

·         $50,772 for positions to enforce compliance with Worker’s Compensation, Temporary Disability Insurance, and Prepaid Health Care Laws

Department of Public Safety

Funds for expanded prison furlough program and increased deputy presence

·         $163,965 for expanded electronic monitoring as part of the prison furlough program.  Funds will create new positions and allow for a reduction in inmate population

·         $400,445 for 12 deputy sheriffs to be assigned to capitol security and increase presence at Iolani Palace, Washington Place, Supreme Court and other State buildings

Department of Taxation

Funds for local tax compliance initiatives on Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii

·         $65,052 for examiner positions to enact and enforce voluntary tax compliance initiatives on Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island

Department of Transportation

Funds for new firefighter vehicles and equipment, sonar-equipped vessels to mitigate disaster impacts in various harbors, appropriations to establish the Joint Traffic Management Center to help ease traffic congestion and reduce accidents on Oahu

·         $4,469,933 for new firefighter vehicles, equipment, resources, and facilities improvements

·         $1,410,000 for sonar-equipped vessels to assist in mitigating disaster impacts at statewide harbor facilities

·         $1,342,284 to establish a new Joint Traffic Management Center on Oahu to help reduce traffic incidents and limit traffic congestion

University of Hawaii

• $50,000,000 for repair and maintenance
• $15,000,000 for the Athletic Department to renovate current facilities
• $1,250,000 in funds annually to increase the existing equipment funding pool to maintain and replace equipment used at the Community Colleges

Vacation Payout

Additional funds for unbudgeted expenses which will allow agencies to fill positions rather than hold them vacant. $3,985,898

• $532,616 Dept. of Accounting and General Services
• $1,914 Dept. of Attorney General ($280,000 in base)
• $38,389 Dept. of Agriculture ($150,000 in base)
• $309,897 Dept. of Budget and Finance
• $295,517 Dept. of Business Economic Development and Tourism
• $97,483 Dept. of Human Resources
• $1,041,568 Dept. of Human Services
• $145,240 Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations ($250,000 in base)
• $235,868 Dept. of Land and Natural Resources ($150,000 in base)
• $660,756 Dept. of Public Safety
• $271,755 Dept. of Taxation
• $70,000 Office of the Governor
• $31,391 Office of the lieutenant Governor

House Passes Bills to Help Homeless Including Youth Outreach, Permanent Housing and New ID

The deadline for the Legislature to crossover bills is less than a week away and the House today passed dozens of bills, sending them to the Senate for its consideration.

House bills passing third reading by the full House include measures that provide support for homeless working individuals or families who are ready to rent permanent housing, outreach to homeless individuals and families, homeless unaccompanied youth, and helping homeless individuals obtain government issued identification.

“Homeless people need our support if they are going to get off the streets and become functioning members of society,” said House Speaker Joseph M. Souki (Kahakuloa, Waihee, Waiehu, Puuohala, Wailuku, Waikapu). “These House bills recognize the need to fund outreach services, support permanent housing and ease the path for obtaining legal identification. This support will go a long way toward reaching our goal of reducing the number of homeless people in Hawaii.”

The first “crossover” deadline is March 10 for non-budget bills to pass third reading in order to move to the other chamber. If successful, House bills are sent to the Senate and Senate bills are sent to the House for further consideration.

HB1774 HD1 appropriates funds for outreach to homeless individuals and families, as well as homeless unaccompanied youth to the Department of Human Services.

HB1773 HD1 appropriates funds for the Shallow Rent Subsidy Program for homeless working individuals or families who are ready to rent permanent housing. Also, provides funds for the Department of Human Services to continue to administer Housing First Programs for chronically homeless individuals.

HB2162 HD1 appropriates funds to the Homeless Programs Office of the Department of Human Services for services to help the homeless obtain government issued identification.

The House also passed bills addressing facilities and construction oversight at the University of Hawaii and the safety of its students including:

HB1609 HD1 requires the UH Board of Regents to develop procedures for the full utilization of university facilities and requires the administration of the all UH campuses to collect and report data relating to facilities utilization. The bill prohibits the UH Board of Regents from approving the construction of a new university building until a public hearing is held to discuss facility utilization and cost.

HB2772 HD1 requires the UH to train employees and students on sexual harassment policies, appoint a campus advocate at each campus for students to discuss incidents of sexual harassment, report sexual assault cases to the police, and conduct a campus climate survey. The bill also prohibits romantic relationships between, among others, a UH student and a UH faculty member.

HB1800 HD1 requires funds appropriated to the University of Hawaii for a specific purpose to be expended for that specific purpose. UH must also submit a report to the Legislature on how funds are used and requires unexpended funds to be returned to the general fund.

Another passed bill, HB2213 HD1, establishes a matching grant program for resident undergraduate UH students with financial need and whose parents have not earned a baccalaureate or higher degree.

HB1940 HD1 establishes a collective bargaining unit for graduate student assistants employed at the University of Hawaii.

Other bills passed today by the House include:

HB2605 HD1 appropriates funds to establish, administer, and support on-the-job training for individuals who are unemployed and dislocated due to the closure of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company on Maui.

HB2555 HD1 authorizes the Board of Agriculture to regulate the growing of industrial hemp for research purposes. Requires the regulation of growers selling industrial hemp.

HB2034 HD1 appropriates funds to the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission for restoration and preservation projects. Also requires submission of a financial self-sufficiency and sustainability plan to the legislature no later than 20 days prior to the 2017 Regular Session.

HB2736 HD2 requires that Hawaiian language ballots be made available in each election if requested by a voter.

Another election related bill is HB1653 HD1 which incrementally phases in statewide elections by mail by the 2022 primary election. The bill assigns responsibilities between the state and counties for expenses related to mail elections for federal, state, and county offices and requires clerks to send qualified voters their ballots 45 days before an election. The bill also establishes standards regarding hours of operation for absentee polling places and specifies procedures for the counting of ballots and repeals the Election Day state holiday.

Concerning rapid ohia death, HB2675 HD1 appropriates funds for research to combat rapid ohia death and HB1597 HD1 appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for research and mitigation efforts relating to the rapid ohia death disease in Hawaii.

HB2348 HD2 Restores the permanently exempt second deputy director position for the Department of Human Services, establishes a secretary, community/project development director, and policy director positions. Exempts the community/project development director and policy director from civil service status and appropriates funds for the newly established positions.

HB2204 HD1 repeals annual increment and longevity step salary increases for Department of Education teachers and educational officers and clarifies that such increases shall be determined through collective bargaining.

HB2092 HD1 requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority to prohibit or restrict the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles on sidewalks on private streets in the Kakaako Community Development District. Also concerning Kakaako, HB2604 HD1 clarifies that acceptance by the Territorial Legislature or the Legislature of a dedication of land in the Kakaako Community Development District by a private owner is sufficient to convey title to the state.

HB1878 HD1 appropriates funds for the Kupuna Care Program, Aging and Disability Resource Center, fall prevention and early detection services for the elderly, the Healthy Aging Partnership Program, an Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator position, and an Alzheimer's disease and related dementia public awareness program.

Another kupuna care related bill is HB1943 HD1 which provides an adjustment to the methodology used to reimburse facilities for the long-term care of Medicaid recipients for fiscal year 2016-2017.

HB 2037 HD1 appropriates moneys to the DLNR to host the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress meeting at the Hawaii Convention Center on September 1-10, 2016.

HB2750 HD1 establishes the Native Hawaiian Housing Task Force, administratively attached to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to identify duplicative services and improve efficiency in providing housing-related services to Native Hawaiians.

HB 2424 HD1 requires the Department of Agriculture to establish or participate in private-public partnerships to enhance the biosecurity program and quarantine inspection process.

HB1787 HD2 creates and appropriates funds for Erin's Law Task Force to review policies, programs, and curricula for educating public school students about sexual abuse prevention, and report recommendations for the establishment of a program to educate public school children on sexual abuse prevention through age-appropriate curricula.

HB2229 HD1 establishes the Hawaii Sports Task Force to plan and coordinate efforts to keep the Pro Bowl in Hawaii, to secure Hawaii as a host site for a National Football League pre-season game, world-title soccer tournaments, mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments and other international sporting events at Aloha Stadium, and to secure and maintain Hawaii as a host site for other sporting and sports entertainment events statewide. Establishes the Hawaii Sports Task Force to plan and coordinate efforts aimed at the promotion and growth of the state's sports entertainment and event hosting industry.

HB1983 HD1 authorizes the Department of Health to establish a cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection tax credit or rebate program. Disallows the tax credit for cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds certain amounts. Applies tax credit to all cesspools, regardless of location. Provides that cesspools found to be illegal, as a result of an inspection conducted due to a person applying for a rebate or taxpayer claiming a credit, are not subject to penalty.

HB2205 HD1 establishes requirements for public charter school board meetings. Exempts public charter school commission from certain public meeting requirements. Authorizes charter schools to assess fees and charges for co-curricular activities.

HB1702 HD1 amends the income tax credit for expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment by changing the manner for determining the taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that constitutes the tax credit.

Another tax credit bill HB2166 HD1 expands the low income-household renter's income tax credit based on adjusted gross income, filing status, and the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2016.

A complete list of bills passed by the House to date this biennium is available on the Capitol website at:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/advreports/advreport.aspx?year=2016&report=deadline&active=true&rpt_type=firstCross&measuretype=HB&title=House%20Bills%20Crossed%20Over%20to%20the%20Senate

House passes bills supporting Maui sugar workers and affordable housing initiatives

With the Legislature’s crossover deadline one week away, the House today passed a numbers of bills and sent them to the Senate for its consideration. Among the House bills passing third reading by the full House were measures that provides assistance to dislocated sugar workers from Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company on Maui, addresses Hawaii’s chronic housing shortage, creates a Transit Oriented Development authority, and establishes a veterans’ services counselor position within the Office of Veterans' Services to assist all veterans, with a primary focus on female veterans.

“One of our top priorities among the many needs that we are addressing in this session is providing immediate assistance to the sugar workers on Maui who will lose their jobs with the end of sugar production at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.,” said House Speaker Joseph M. Souki (Kahakuloa, Waihee, Waiehu, Puuohala, Wailuku, Waikapu). “This measure will help ensure that the affected workers and their families are provided every opportunity to transition smoothly through this difficult and unsettling time.”

HB2186, HD1 directs and appropriates funds for the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide workforce development, worker training and retraining, and other dislocated worker assistance programs for workers affected by the cessation of sugar production on Maui.

Another passed bill relating to agriculture is HB1982, HD1 which authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist Big Island Dairy, who operates a dairy farm in Ookala, one of only two commercial dairies remaining in the State. Although the dairy plays a vital role in Hawaii's agriculture and economy, the company faces increasing competition from mainland producers.

The House also passed a number of bills addressing Hawaii’s chronic affordable housing shortage, including:

HB1958, HD1 provides a General Excise Tax exemption for low-income rental subsidies including those from the Housing First programs.

HB2638, HD1 authorizes the Public Housing Authority to impose maximum rental periods of five years for state low-income housing projects which receive state funds for repair and maintenance or capital improvement, but excludes tenants who are disabled or 65 years of age or older. The measure also requires rates for the five-year rentals to be fixed the for entire term of lease and establishes a trust account for the Authority to provide matching funds for tenants who choose to participate in those five-year rentals.

HB2659, HD1 requires a percentage of funds in the Housing First Special Fund to be used to provide homes for persons who qualify for social security disability benefits and are diagnosed with life-long, serious mental illnesses.

HB2744, HD1 bases the amount of the tax credit on whether or not a building is financed by tax-exempt bonds. Increases funding for affordable rental housing development by making the State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit more valuable. Reduces State Tax Credit period from ten to five years.

Other bills passed today by the House include:

HB2199 establishes a Transit Oriented Development Authority within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to oversee and manage development of infrastructure on state lands within one-quarter mile radius of rail stations.

HB1814, HD1 appropriates funds to provide training and track data on public school pupil punishment and use of restraints restrictions established by Act 206, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014.

HB2510, HD1 authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. to establish a housing voucher program for full-time classroom teachers employed by the Department of Education, including classroom teachers at public charter schools.

HB2489 appropriates funds for the establishment of a veterans’ services counselor position within the Office of Veterans' Services to assist all veterans, with a primary focus on female veterans.

HB2491, HD1 appropriates funds for programs, ceremonies and activities commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

HB2252, HD1 requires hospitals to adopt and maintain discharge policies, consistent with recent updates to federal regulations, to ensure that patients continue to receive necessary care after leaving the hospital.

HB2010, HD1 allows the First Job Training Programs that provide on-the-job training and education to first-time hires to pay participant-employees a special minimum wage that is less than the state’s minimum wage.

The first “crossover” (Thursday, March 10) is the deadline for non-budget bills to pass third reading in order to move to the other chamber. If successful, House bills are sent to the Senate and Senate bills are sent to the House for further consideration.

A complete list of bills passed by the House to date this biennium is available on the Capitol website at:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/advreports/advreport.aspx?year=2016&report=deadline&active=true&rpt_type=firstCross&measuretype=HB&title=House%20Bills%20Crossed%20Over%20to%20the%20Senate

Pilot Project Demonstrates Remote Testimony Potential

An ongoing remote testimony pilot project at the State Capitol offers a peek into how neighbor island residents might more directly participate in their state government in the future. Today, using new videoconferencing equipment, Rep. Nicole Lowen (Kailua-Kona, Holualoa) was able to successfully communicate with Kailua-Kona resident David Case.

“This is great. It seems to do everything you want and need the process to do,” said Case in his live streamed video conference with Lowen. “It’s certainly preferable to spending $200-$300 and taking up a whole day to testify for two or three minutes before a committee at the Legislature.”

The demonstration gave House staff and legislators a first-hand look at how residents on the neighbor island could provide live testimony during future legislative hearings. The demonstration follows years of attempted legislation introduced by Lowen to facilitate outer island residents' active participation in the legislative process.

"I've introduced a bill on this initiative every year since I was first elected,” Lowen said. “Today, even without the passage of a bill, we took some big steps toward creating a remote testimony system. It's a huge burden when our constituents on the neighbor islands have to pay for a plane ticket, hotel room, and rental car just to get a few minutes of time to speak in front of a committee. Other states do this—Alaska, Washington, Colorado; we can and should do it too."

As part of the pilot project, selected measures before the House Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources & Hawaiian affairs (OMH) will utilize the high tech equipment to provide limited live testimony remotely from the neighbor islands during the current session.

Testifiers seeking to participate in the pilot program will require a computer with a functional webcam and microphone, along with a broadband connection for optimal results. Participants are required to register to testify prior to the hearing, and will be sent a hyperlink to join the committee meeting by teleconference at the time of the hearing.

In addition, House Bill 1595, introduced by Lowen, would establish a Remote Testimony Task Force to bring together a group of legislators, staff and technical experts to develop procedures and expand opportunities for the public to testify remotely during legislative proceedings. The bill passed the House Committee on Finance and now moves to the House floor and then to the Senate.

HSPAN: Capitol On Demand

The Hawai‘i State Legislature and ‘Ōlelo Community Media unveiled a new statewide on-demand channel called HSPAN that will significantly increase the coverage of Capitol activities available to the public.

HSPAN – the Hawai‘i Statewide Public Access Network – was created to provide cable subscribers throughout the State with expanded access to the Legislature’s meetings and is already available for viewing. In addition to legislative hearings, the State executive offices, executive branch agencies, and the Judiciary will have access to provide content on HSPAN.

New remote-controlled Sony HD cameras have been installed in 16 conference rooms, both the House and Senate Chambers and the Capitol Auditorium. This will allow for multiple hearings to be captured simultaneously and distributed on HSPAN, Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s digital Channel 50.

The new statewide on-demand channel is in addition to the live coverage currently provided by Capitol TV, which airs on ‘Ōlelo Channel 49 and 54, and other community access stations across the State: Hō‘ike on Kauai, ‘Akakū on Maui and Nā Leo TV on the Big Island. Capitol TV is a State-contracted production company.

The new service will offer Hawai‘i residents significantly increased access to coverage of legislative activities. Committee hearings, floor sessions and any special sessions in the chambers, auditorium and hearing rooms can be archived on HSPAN for on-demand viewing.

‘Ōlelo partnered with Oceanic and the State of Hawai‘i to design and build the necessary infrastructure:

• Oceanic provided fiber optic cable throughout the Capitol to connect all 16 conference rooms’ audio, video and data lines for the remote camera controls to the control room 

• The clerk’s office and information technology staff designed and executed the recording and uploading workflow to be fully supported by their departments 

• ‘Ōlelo developed the master plan for the design, purchase and roll-out of the hardware and software; installed over 30 Sony HD cameras; and designed and installed the upgraded control room

“The Senate has long been an advocate of government transparency and has strived to increase public participation in the legislative process,” said Senator J. Kalani English, Senate majority leader. “HSPAN follows our initiative to effect good governance and allows for our constituents, particularly on the neighbor islands, unfiltered accessibility to legislative action at the Capitol.”

“Our House members were very pleased with the initiative taken by ‘Ōlelo to provide this additional service to the public. It ties in and closely aligns with our ongoing efforts to provide more transparency in the Legislature and, more importantly, to make it easier for voters to get involved in their government and the process of governing,” said House Speaker, Rep. Joseph M. Souki. “My congratulations to ‘Ōlelo for this and its other efforts on behalf of the people of Hawai‘i.”

“Two years ago, the Legislature, the State of Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and ‘Ōlelo embarked on a project to provide gavel-to-gavel coverage for both the Senate and the House of Representatives,” explains Sanford Inouye, president and CEO of ‘Ōlelo. “The people of Hawai‘i can proudly say that we have a government that is significantly more accessible and transparent.”

For more information, visit www.olelo.org.

Women's Legislative Caucus Elects New Leadership, Expands Membership

During the annual meeting of the Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus (WLC), members from both the state Senate and House elected new co-conveners for the Caucus and voted to expand their membership to include women lawmakers at the county level.

At the January 12th meeting, the WLC voted as new co-conveners for 2016, Senators Rosalyn H. Baker and Laura H. Thielen and Representatives Lauren Kealohilani Matsumoto and Della Au Belatti. New co-conveners are elected every two years.

“I’m excited to step up to co-convene this wonderful group of women,” said Sen. Laura Thielen. “I look forward to continuing the important work of this group which has a great track record for bettering the lives of women.”

“It’s an honor to be in the company of these strong, smart women lawmakers and I believe together we can make a difference in the lives of women throughout the State,” said Rep. Lauren Matsumoto.

At the meeting, the WLC also decided to extend invitations to the women members of the four county councils to join state lawmakers in promoting legislation at the state and county levels.

“Last year we worked closely with the women members of the Honolulu City Council to protect the safety of victims of domestic violence. We found we could be much more effective when working on matters at both the state and county level,” said Sen. Rosalyn Baker. “We look forward to expanding those efforts to every island.”

“Developing this partnership with the women from all counties just makes sense,” said Rep. Della Au Bellati. “By working together, we create a statewide effort of women leaders which only benefits all women in Hawaii.”

The WLC is currently finalizing the package of priorities to be introduced at the 2016 legislative session. The caucus will meet on Thursday, January 28 at the YWCA of Oahu, 1040 Richards Street, to announce the package of bills. The meeting will include a breakfast and panel discussion from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. A news conference will be held at 9 a.m.

Speaker Joseph M. Souki 2016 Opening Day Remarks

OPENING DAY REMARKS

2016 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
JOSEPH M. SOUKI
SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
JANUARY 20, 2016

Fellow House members, welcome to the 2016 Regular Session of the Hawaii State Legislature. To say that I have seen my share of opening days at the Legislature would be, at my age, a bit of an understatement. Twenty-five or even ten years ago, who would have thought that we would be looking at medical marijuana in the way that we regard it today?

Who would have imagined the number of houses powered by solar panels that are on our roofs today?

Who would have foreseen the Internet or the impact of social media?

Times have changed and so has Hawaii.

Fundamental Needs
What has not changed are the fundamental issues that we grapple with every day here in this building: The economy and jobs, affordable housing and homelessness, the education of our children, the stewardship of our environment, and the protection of our basic rights — these needs never change.

What does change is our approach to them.

It wasn’t so long ago that we were all wondering whether we would ever see single digit interest rates again. But we have—and then some.

It wasn’t so long ago that we were all wondering whether we would ever see the end to the “Great Recession.” But we have, with a record number of visitors coming to the state in the last few years.

The economic cycle is pointing up and our local economy is on a roll. We have momentum on our side—not just economic momentum but a legislative one as well.

It’s About Momentum
Last year, this body took major steps to move us toward energy self-sufficiency.

We gave patients throughout the state access to medical marijuana with the creation of state supervised dispensaries.

We moved to resolve the longstanding financial crisis of Maui’s public hospitals.

We shored up our long-term financial stability by strengthening the Rainy Day Fund and Hurricane Relief Fund, as well as by addressing our unfunded liabilities.

These are not only very difficult and complex issues, but longstanding ones as well. Thank you for having the courage to tackle these and other tough issues over the last several sessions.

I believe we are on a roll, with momentum on our side. And that is not a small thing.

A few weeks ago, I watched the Alamo Bowl, where TCU found itself trailing at the start of the second half, by 31 points! I don’t know what the coach told them at halftime, but clearly, they came out in the second half, intent on fighting back. Momentum dramatically shifted and after three hard fought-overtime periods, they finally secured victory.

Ask any athlete, momentum can be such a powerful force in competition. I believe it can also be a powerful force in life as well. But what are we going to do with it?

Moving forward still takes hard work, boldness and determination. But imagine the good we can do if we leverage our momentum.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness
Homelessness seems as entrenched as any issue we’ve faced in recent times. However, the City and State have been working with many agencies and nonprofit organizations to shape a multipronged approach to assisting these individuals.

We need to support those efforts—not timidly but emphatically with sufficient funds to meet those needs.

And the same should go for the creation of more affordable homes and rentals.

We should refocus all of the state agencies who have a hand in developing affordable housing to leverage what is currently being done. We should start looking at how we can build affordable housing on state owned parcels along Oahu’s rail system.

And we should partner with the private sector so that more can be developed—and developed sooner rather than later.

Providing an adequate supply of affordable housing is the correct long-term solution so that families don’t fall into homelessness and despair.

Fine tuning the clinics
In 2000, we were the first state to legalize medical marijuana. Last year, we provided safe and reliable access for those who require it for health reasons.

As we move closer to implementation, let’s make sure that they’re done right and serve our people in the way they were intended.

Hawaii Health Systems Corporation
The action we took last year to shore up Maui’s public hospitals was groundbreaking. That formula may provide us with an answer to broader issues with other facilities in our statewide public hospital system.

That’s something we should explore.

Investing in Hawaii’s Long-Term Future
In looking to our long-term future, we need to continue to scrutinize ways to keep us on a sound fiscal footing. Ways that include making sure that we can sustain ongoing state initiatives, whether it’s the Cancer Center, the Enterprise Technology Services, or any other recent endeavor.

We must continue paying down our unfunded liabilities, specifically our obligations to the public employees’ retirement fund.

Building our budgetary reserves now, puts us in a better position to weather any future economic slowdown, which is sure to come our way.

Our Kupuna
We need to help our kupuna by passing the bill introduced last session that will help family members care for their seniors after they come home from the hospital. Testimony on the measure supported the bill three to one.

More importantly, it will provide the kind of medical training for caregivers that is so essential to keeping our kupuna healthy.

In addition, I will be introducing a bill that will require all doctors practicing in Hawaii to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients. That too will help our kupuna, as well as those who must seek medical care but cannot afford it.

Help for the Counties
And we need to help our counties who help us support our number one industry, tourism. We can do that by raising the counties’ share of the tourism tax and building on earlier increases to the counties. That’s taking advantage of our momentum.

In addition, we need to help the workers on Maui affected by the closure of sugar operations at Hawaii Commercial and Sugar Company. And our actions have to be more than just creating another Hamakua Task Force.

The closure of those sugar lands on our last large-scale plantation marks the end of a remarkable, proud and historic era in Hawaii. Our grandparents, parents and all of us have been shaped by life around the plantations and the lessons learned on them. It reminds us of our history and where we came from, so that we can better plot the direction in which we want to go.

We will be working closely with A&B and the Administration to ensure that real help will be available. The end of an era cannot be the end of those workers’ dreams for a better life.

Our Keiki
Finally, you cannot talk about a long-term scenario without talking about the investment we make in our children. We need to repair and modernize our education infrastructure so that we give our keiki the best chance to learn and to prepare themselves for their future.

And we need to give them the best opportunity to secure good paying jobs so that they can support their families and create a better life for themselves. We can do that by ensuring that small businesses, the backbone of our economy, remain vibrant and strong.

Right now small business is having a tough time because of one primary reason: their lease rent have gone through the roof, increasing in some places by more than a thousand percent in a very short span of time.

Consequently, we’ve seen a string of locally owned shops and stores shut down in recent years. And it will not stop any time soon, driving more and more of them out of business. Unless we do something about it. And we can, if we have the determination and will.

We can level the playing field and change for the better the business landscape across the state—if we are willing to reinvent the rules that govern commercial leasehold lands.

Hawaii has done it before with lands supporting single-family and multi-family homes. Those historic actions gave the ordinary working person new opportunities for true homeownership, rejuvenated the local housing market and leveled the playing field for home buyers.

It’s time for us to think about the converting commercial leasehold lands in Hawaii to fee simple.

The Power of Momentum
Momentum—as powerful as it is—has no value if we don’t use it or leverage it.
Political pundits have noted that this is an election year. In other words, a year in which politicians seeking reelection do nothing to upset voters.

I am not asking you to upset voters, but to be bold in this election year and do what needs to be done for the greater good. We cannot lose the momentum we have built up. We must use it to keep us moving forward. I look forward to joining you in these endeavors and working with you on behalf of the people of Hawaii.

Thank you and aloha.

New Kihei High School Breaks Ground

Courtesy: Hawaii Department of Education

After decades of petitioning and planning, the long-awaited Kihei High School in South Maui broke ground off Piilani Highway 9 a.m. on Monday morning, January 11.

Representative Kaniela Ing (Kihei, Wailea, Makena), who has advocated for this project since his first election in 2012, expressed his excitement:

“As I knocked on doors in my neighborhood, people have made it clear that this is South Maui’s top priority. As my o’o hit the ground, I couldn’t help but get emotional. We have achieved the number one goal that we have set out to do. The people of South Maui should be very proud of themselves.”

Ing explained that the South Maui community has been waiting for this moment since the 1990’s. “I am ecstatic to see hundreds of hours of tireless work by so many people, over so many years, finally bear fruit.” He went on to note that while celebration is in order, “our work is not complete until 1,000 students are sitting in these classrooms.”

Ing noted that the project will benefit more than just South Maui because classrooms in Maui High and Baldwin are overcrowded, and traffic into town can be cumbersome. Its value also extends beyond education.

“This is more than just a school,” Ing said. “Our community currently does not have a stadium or even a gym. Through sports and clubs, our high school will give our young people a better sense of belonging and serve as a true hub for our community at large.”

Ing credited the project’s success to community advocacy, his relationships with key lawmakers, and a tear-and-send postcard he sent out to every South Maui home in 2013.

“It was inspiring to see how many pieces of testimony we got back and were sent on to the House Finance Committee,” he added. “It was the community voice that got Kihei High School in the budget.”

House Finance Chair, Rep. Sylvia Luke (Makiki, Nuuanu, Punchbowl, Dowsett Highlands, Pacific Heights, Pauoa), who controls the State budget in the House, offered her support for Rep. Kaniela Ing's efforts.

“Kihei High School is an important project for the Kihei community,” Luke said. “Kaniela was instrumental in securing funding to begin construction of this new school, and I will continue to work with him to make sure this project gets completed.”

The Governor and the DOE also expressed their intent to see the project through completion. The school is estimated to open as early as 2018, depending on how the funding, design and contracts are secured and completed.

There have been some administrative hiccups along the way, hurdles that Ing said are inevitable for a project of this size.

“The scale of this project is an enormous. Sometimes things happen that are out of your control, but all you can do is be transparent with the community, never get discouraged, and keep moving forward. The important thing is it is happening now," he said

The Legislature met the Governor’s request to fully fund the $130 million project in 2013, but unforeseen fiscal challenges and administrative changes kept the department from spending $100 million of the funds. When Governor Ige’s administration took over in 2014, the department opted for a phased approach.

$30 million will be immediately available from the Legislature for the first phases of construction, which includes ground work, constructing wells, and an access road ($400,000 has been already awarded). Construction of classrooms and administration buildings will encumber the remaining appropriation.

According to Ing, the project will cost an additional $50-$100 million depending on the final design and cost of materials. Ing said he will work to get funding underway for Phase 2 in the next legislative session. “We want to do more with less,” he said, and noted that, “the project will take due diligence and requires fiscal responsibility.”

“I’m really excited that this will be the first Net Zero high school in the entire state,” said Ing, noting that the facility will be powered by clean and renewable sources with energy to come from the sun and wind. “It sets an example for what high schools should look like in the future. This is not your grandfather’s high school.”

Lawmakers Listen Community Meeting Draws Large Attendance in Ewa

Representative Matt LoPresti (Ewa, Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry, Ewa Villages, Hoakalei & Ocean Pointe) and leaders from the Hawaii State House of Representatives held a Lawmakers Listen session at the Ewa Makai Middle School on Saturday where they heard a wide range of concerns from residents in the area.

Discussions at the meeting focused on a number of topics including the upcoming legislative session, rail, traffic mitigation, heat abatement improvements in area schools, and infrastructure improvements to address overcapacity at district schools.

Members of the community were invited to share their questions and concerns directly with Rep. LoPresti, Speaker of the House Joseph M. Souki, and House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke. The group was also joined by Vice-Speaker John Mizuno and Energy and Environmental Protection Chair Chris Lee.

“Lawmakers Listen” is an ongoing series of community town halls across the state with district representatives, members of the House leadership, and committee chairpersons. The purpose of the meetings is for legislators to hear the concerns of area residents and to discuss solutions. 

Legislature Commences New Year With Budget Hearings

The House Finance Committee and the Senate Ways and Means committee yesterday began a series of informational briefings to gain insight into Governor David Ige’s financial plan and the budgets for the various state departments. The joint committee was briefed by Wes Machida, the state budget director, on the overall executive state budget. The committee also heard from the state Department of Budget and Finance on its budget.

The money committees will continue to hold informational briefings with the remaining executive departments through Thursday, January 14. A schedule of upcoming budget hearings is available at http://ow.ly/WCwu4.

The 28th Hawaii State Legislature will convene the 2016 Legislative Session on Wednesday, January 20 at 10 a.m. in the House Chambers. This is the second year of the legislative biennium and the Legislature will hold a modest opening to the session with a business as usual approach. Floor proceedings will not include entertainment, and family members, friends and guests will not be seated on the chamber floors. Following the opening, legislators will have the discretion to host guests in their individual offices.

The public is welcomed to attend the opening floor sessions, however seating is limited. Chamber galleries will open at 9:45 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Governor will deliver his second State-of-the-State address during a joint session of the Legislature in the House chamber on Monday, January 25.

The public can access more information on hearings and session activities on the Legislature’s website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

Rep. John Mizuno Receives Leadership Award

The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org), a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, recognized Representative John M. Mizuno (District 28 - Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights, portion of Lower Kalihi) with its 2015 Leadership Award.

Representative Mizuno sponsored House Bill 398, a companion bill to Senate Bill 982 which was enacted into law and supported by Responsibility.org. HB 398 provides immunity when seeking treatment for an emergency drug or alcohol overdose for oneself or another person. Often people fear the consequences of their own arrest when seeking emergency medical assistance for a friend or family member who may be in danger. When someone in America needs medical assistance, a call for help occurs less than 50% of the time. Fear of police involvement is the most common reason for not calling 911 during a medical emergency.

"Representative Mizuno has been a tireless advocate for the people of the 28th District of Hawaii" said Ralph Blackman, President and CEO of Responsibility.org. "We can't thank the Representative enough for his dedication and leadership. We believe Good Samaritan laws have the potential to save young lives when alcohol overconsumption results in a life threatening situation. We look forward to expanding our relationship and continuing to save lives in the future with Representative Mizuno."

The foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) is a national not-for-profit organization that leads the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking. Funded by America's leading distillers (Bacardi U.S.A. Inc.; Beam Suntory; Brown-Forman; Constellation Brands, Inc.; DIAGEO; Edrington; Hood River Distillers, Inc.; and Pernod Ricard USA), Responsibility.org is dedicated to developing and implementing programs that guide a lifetime of conversations around alcohol responsibility and offering proven strategies to stop impaired driving.

Finance Committee Visits the Big Island

Members of the House Finance Committee, chaired by Representative Sylvia Luke, toured various sites on Hawaii Island to view first hand several projects and programs supported by the Legislature. The site visits provided committee members first hand insight into the status of ongoing projects and on other needs of the district.

Representatives Richard Onishi and Nicole Lowen who serve on the Finance Committee were joined by fellow Big Island lawmakers Clift Tsuji, Mark Nakashima, Cindy Evans and Richard Creagan on a wide range of activities that included a status update and site visit of Hilo Medical Center.

The committee visited Hamakua Mushrooms, Ookala Dairy Farm, Big Island Beef and met with Kamuela farmers to discuss and learn about their issues and concerns. The legislators also received a briefing by Hawaiian Homestead farmers participating in the Waimea Regional Community and Economic Development Program.

In Kona the committee toured projects at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii including the Taylor Shell Fish Farm and Cyanotech.