LEGISLATIVE BILLS TO PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SIGNED INTO LAW

Measures expand HINET Program and continue successful Promise Program to help with tuition and basic needs

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – To offset the costs of a community college student's basic needs such as food and transportation, and paying for tuition, state lawmakers passed two bills last session appropriating more than $2.3 million in state funds to help our young people achieve their dream of a college education.

Governor David Ige today signed one of these bills, SB50 SD2 HD1 the Hawai'i Nutrition Employment and Training Program (HINET), into law during a ceremony at the State Capitol.

• This bill appropriates $910,000 ($455,000 for each of the next two fiscal years) to continue the HINET program and hire seven full-time instructional and student support positions.
• HINET helps students cover the cost of food, transportation, books, and necessary tools.
• HINET is a workforce and education training program offered to students who receive or are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and are enrolled at least part-time at a University of Hawaiʻi community college in an approved program.
• HINET staff work with students one-on-one to address their needs and goals, and match them with training.

STATE BASEBALL CHAMPION NĀNĀKULI HAWKS TO BE HONORED BY LEEWARD LAWMAKERS

WHO:             Representatives Stacelynn K.M. Eli and Cedric Asuega Gates, and Senator Maile S.L. Shimabukuro

WHAT:          Honoring the coaches and players of the Nānākuli Hawks 12U Baseball Team

WHEN:          Wednesday, June 26

                        6:30 p.m.

                       

WHERE:       Nānākuli High and Intermediate School and Nānākuli Elementary School

                        Team practice area below the football field, next to the basketball court

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – State Representatives Stacelynn K.M. Eli and Cedric Asuega Gates, and State Senator Maile S.L. Shimabukuro will present Congratulatory Certificates to the coaches and players of the Nānākuli Hawks 12U (12 years old and under) Baseball Team to celebrate their recent victory in the 2019 Hawaiʻi 12/70 Division Baseball Championship.

"We are so proud of these young athletes," said Rep. Eli (‘Ewa Villages, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Nanakai Gardens, Ko ‘Olina, Kahe Point, Nānākuli, Lualualei, Mā‘ili). "They fought hard to earn this victory and are now going on to represent our state on the mainland."

STATEMENT BY HOUSE SPEAKER SCOTT K. SAIKI ON THE GOVERNOR'S INTENT TO VETO LIST

House of Representatives Speaker Scott K. Saiki released the following statement on the intent to veto list announced by Governor David Ige.

"The House Democratic Caucus will meet tomorrow morning to discuss the Governor's list.  We will also consult with the Senate leadership concerning the possibility of convening an override session if any bills are actually vetoed.

"If an override session is not held, any vetoed measures can be reintroduced in the 2020 legislative session. We will use this interim to address the Governor's objections to vetoed bills."

According to the Hawai‘i State Constitution, the Legislature may convene before noon on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, for the sole purpose of acting upon any such bill returned by the Governor.

On July 9, 2019, any measure passed during the 2019 legislative session that has not been signed or vetoed by Governor Ige will become law with or without his signature.

REP. SAN BUENAVENTURA TO HOST PUNA BOAT RAMP MEETING

WHO:             Representative Joy San Buenaventura

                        Robert "Bob" Masuda; First Deputy, State Department of Land and Natural Resources

                        Representative Chris Todd

                        Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder; Hawai‘i County Council, District 5

Diane Ley, Director, County of Hawaii Department of Research & Development

WHAT:          Community meeting to discuss the Puna boat ramp

WHEN:          Saturday, July 13

                        1-3 p.m.

WHERE:       Sacred Hearts Church Pahoa

                        15-3003 Pahoa Village Road

Puna, Hawai‘i –Robert "Bob" Masuda of the State Department of Land and Natural Resources will take part in a community meeting Saturday, July 13 to discuss the Puna boat ramp study.  State Representative Joy San Buenaventura will discuss the 2019 legislative funding for the boat ramp.  County Council person Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder and Director of Research & Development Diane Ley will be available to answer questions.

REPRESENTATIVE MIZUNO NAMED CO-CHAIR FOR COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS' HEALTHY STATES TASK FORCE SUBCOMMITTEE

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Representative John M. Mizuno has been selected as a Co-Chair on a subcommittee of The Council of State Governments’ national Healthy States Task Force. The Task Force and subcommittees will convene on Monday, June 17 - 19 in Lexington, Kentucky.

The subcommittee's dedicated purpose is to develop a framework on the capacity, preparedness, and resiliency in healthcare access and delivery during and in the aftermath of a natural disaster or health crisis.

“The CSG Healthy States National Task Force will bring together a diverse group of state policymakers to explore ways states can best meet the challenges presented by the current health care system and leverage the revolutionary changes occurring in the health sector,” said CSG Executive Director David Adkins.

Mizuno (District 28 - Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights, portion of Lower Kalihi) will co-chair the Capacity, Preparedness and Resiliency, or CPR, subcommittee. The subcommittee will examine case studies and review recent state responses to health crises, including ways to prevent and/or reduce the impact of health crisis through preventive care.

GOVERNOR SIGNS REPRESENTATIVE NAKAMURA'S BILL DURING CEREMONY CELEBRATING REOPENING OF HĀʻENA STATE PARK

Measure extends disaster relief appropriations following disastrous 2018 flooding

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –At a community celebration and blessing for the reopening of Hāʻena State Park Wednesday, Governor David Ige signed a bill introduced by Representative Nadine K. Nakamura to extend disaster relief funds for areas affected by the disastrous 2018 floods.

HB329 HD1 SD2 amends the Kaua‘i flooding disaster relief appropriation made in Act 12, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2018. The new bill extends the lapse date of the appropriation to June 30, 2020 and allows funds to be used for mitigation.

“This one-year extension gives the State, the County of Kauai, and the City and County of Honolulu one additional year to continue the important work of rebuilding more resilient communities,” said Rep. Nakamura (Hanalei, Princeville, Kīlauea, Anahola, Kapaʻa, Wailuā).

WEST HAWAI‘I LAWMAKERS TO HOST LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, TALK STORY SESSION JULY 3

WHO:             Representative Nicole Lowen

                        Senator Dru Kanuha

                        County Councilwoman Karen Eoff

                        County Councilwoman Maile David

                        County Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas

WHAT:          Community Forum/Talk Story Session

WHEN:          Wednesday, July 3

                        5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:       West Hawai‘i Civic Center

74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Council Chambers

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR DISTRICT 49 TOTAL $31.3 MILLION

Rep. Matayoshi secured funding for schools, passed consumer protection legislation

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) earmarked for House District 49 through 2021 include $31.3 million targeting improvements for schools, the Hawaiʻi Youth Correctional Facility, Hawaiʻi State Veterans Cemetery, and Hawaiʻi State Hospital.

"These CIP funds are an investment in our community," said Representative Scot Z. Matayoshi (Kāneʻohe, Maunawili, Olomana). "Infrastructure improvements impact our every-day lives, and I want to thank my colleagues in the legislature for their support in securing funding for these priorities."

In addition to securing CIP funds, Rep. Matayoshi introduced and passed legislation requiring gift certificate and gift card issuers to automatically cash out the remaining balances of gift certificates with less than $5 remaining, starting in 2020 (HB314 HD1 SD1).