KEIKI CAUCUS PRESENTS AGGRESSIVE 2019 LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE

Bills include tobacco restrictions, bullying prevention, safe places for youth

Senator Karl Rhoads and Representative John M. Mizuno, co-conveners of the Legislature's Keiki Caucus, presented an aggressive 2019 Legislative Package of bills at the State Capitol today, relying on the support and input from dozens of organizations, individuals, and keiki themselves.

"The future of our entire state depends on our keiki," said Rep. Mizuno (Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights, portion of Lower Kalihi). "This is our most promising, robust package of bills in the 25 years of the caucus."

Sen. Rhoads (Dowsett Highlands, Pu‘unui, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Palama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown, and Downtown) said the support and advice from Hawaiʻi's many children's advocacy groups is what makes this year's package so important.

FINANCE COMMITTEE PASSES BASE BUDGET

Bill is the first step in reforming the way state government spends taxpayer money

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The House Finance Committee today passed HB 2 HD1, the state operating budget for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, as the first step toward adding additional accountability and transparency to the way the state spends money.

The ultimate goal of performance-based budgeting is to have every state agency justify discretionary funds they receive for each two-year budget cycle. Eventually, zero-based budgeting will analyze the entire budget of programs.

"The idea is to have public policy drive the budget rather than have the budget drive public policy as has often been done," said Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair of the Finance Committee. "This change will likely take a couple years to completely implement, but it will make our departments accountable for the funds they receive, and the public will better know how their taxes are being spent."

OPENING DAY FOR THE 2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

House Speaker Scott K. Saiki opens the 2018 Session

WHO:             HAWAI‘I STATE LEGISLATURE

WHAT:          The Hawai‘i House of Representatives and Senate to convene the 30th Biennial Hawai‘i State Legislature

WHEN:          Wednesday, January 16, 2019

                        10 a.m.

WHERE:       House Chamber, Senate Chamber

                        Hawai‘i State Capitol

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMPLETES REVIEW AND UPDATES WORKPLACE HARASSMENT POLICY

New policy promotes a safe environment for all at the State Capitol

House Speaker Scott K. Saiki today announced the completion of a new House Workplace Harassment Policy including sexual harassment.

The new policy provides greater clarity of terms used to define harassment, expands reporting options, and extends protections to House members, staff, and the general public.