Speak up on GMO Taro

As previously posted, the House will hold a hearing on SB958 which proposes a 10-year moratorium on genetically modified taro. Click here to read the hearing notice. If you care to testify, in person or in writing only, here's how to submit your testimony on this measure.

Please submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing, which starts at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 19th, State Capitol Auditorium. On your testimony, place your name, position, organization, the name of the Committee, the Room Number and time of the hearing, and the number of the Measure.

Remember that testimony is now posted online after the hearing, so you may want to consider this before placing personal information in your testimony.

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

By PAPER: Send or drop off 1 original to Room 403 in the State Capitol.

By FAX: For comments less than 5 pages in length, you may fax to 586-8524 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (Neighbor Islands).

By EMAIL: For comments less than 5 pages in length.

For those who plan to testify in-person, email to: SB958InPersonTaro@Capitol.hawaii.gov.

For those who do NOT plan to testify in-person, but would like to insert written comments into the official record only, email to: SB958WrittenOnlyTaro@Capitol.hawaii.gov

House honors Navy SEALs

The House honored the United States Navy SEALs, Hawaii SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One, the most elite fighting force in the world, and the Naval Special Warfare Foundation of Hawaii on March 10, 2008. Rep. John Mizuno introduced HR 144, the resolution that commends them for their outstanding contributions, accomplishments, and service to our state and nation. The Naval Special Warfare Foundation of Hawaii provides financial support and services to widows and children of Navy SEALs killed in combat or training.

Photo (L-R): Dennis Gaughan, Secretary & Treasurer; Russ Geraldi, LCDR SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One; Brain Mulholland, Senior Chief SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One Chad Buck; Ron Seiple, President; Rep. John Mizuno.

Bills of interest for Thursday, March 13th

Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, Room 309, 8:30 a.m.
Chair: Rep. Cindy Evans 586-8510

SB2082, SD2 RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY. Appropriates funds to the Department of Public Safety to develop a plan by July 1, 2008 to return as many as possible of the female Hawaii prisoners incarcerated in mainland prisons back to Hawaii by July 1, 2009.

SB2828 SD2 RELATING TO DISASTER RELIEF. Clarifies the use of the Governor's emergency powers in response to a natural or manmade disaster.

Committee on Human Services & Housing, Room 329, 10:00 a.m.
Chair: Rep. Maile Shimabukuro 586-8460

SB2886, SD1 RELATING TO CHILD ABANDONMENT. Increases child abandonment to a class C felony and renames the offense to child abandonment in the first degree.

Committee on Judiciary, Room 325, 3:15 p.m.
Chair: Rep. Tommy Waters 586-9450

SB2425, SD1 RELATING TO ARSON. Specifies the firefighting costs that a defendant convicted of arson may be required to reimburse.

SB3182, SD1 RELATING TO EXTENDED SENTENCING. Qualifies for extended term sentencing criminal offenders who commit enumerated felonies against good Samaritans.

SB945 RELATING TO ETHICS. Requires drug testing of elected officials after certification of election, but prior to taking the oath of office, and upon reasonable suspicion thereafter. Proposed HD1.

SB3202 PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO EXTEND THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR SSTATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES FROM SEVENTY TO EIGHTY YEARS OF AGE.

SB2605, SD1 RELATING TO TAXATION. Increases the election fund contribution amount on state income tax returns from $2 to $3 for campaign spending purposes.

GMO Taro Gets a Hearing

WHAT: The House Agriculture Committee will hear a bill proposing a moratorium on genetically modified taro. SB958,SD1,HD1 imposes a 10-year moratorium on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, growing and raising genetically engineered taro in Hawaii.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 19, 2008- 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: State Capitol - Auditorium

WHO: Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture - Rep. Clift Tsuji

ISSUE: Native Hawaiians believe that taro, or kalo, is a revered ancestor of the Hawaiian people and should not be genetically altered. Researchers believe that in order to protect the taro from disease, we must modify its structure with resistant genes from other plants.

Bills of interest for Wednesday, March 12th

Committee on Health/Committee on Human Services & Housing, 8:00 a.m., Room 329
Chair of Health: Rep. Josh Green 586-9605
Chair of Human Services & Housing: Rep. Maile Shimabukuro 586-8460

SB2790, SD2 RELATING TO PERINATAL CARE. Appropriates funds for the perinatal clinic within the UH medical school department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health to help women with a history of substance abuse.

SB2041 RELATING TO HEALTH. Appropriates funds to match federal funding for the disproportionate share hospital allowance.

SB2542, SD2 RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH. Ensures continued community-based primary care for the uninsured, underinsured, or Medicaid recipients by helping the community health center system to remain financially viable.

Committee on Finance/Committee on Senate Ways and Means, Capitol Auditorium, 9:00 a.m.
Chair: Rep. Marcus Oshiro 586-6200

Informational Briefing on Grant-in-aid applications from the Neighbor Islands.

Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, 9:00 a.m., Room 312
Chair: Rep. Ken Ito 586-8470

SB2196, SD2 RELATING TO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ON OCEAN WATERS. Adds regulatory function over commercially permitted use of government and private boating facilities and commercial activities in private marinas.

Committee on Transportation/Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, 10:20 a.m., Room 309
Chair of Transportation: Rep. Joe Souki 586-9444
Chair of Public Safety & Military Affairs: Rep. Cindy Evans

SB3240, SD1 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER'S LICENSE. Increases a driver's license from six to eight years. Allows the expired driver's license of a service member who is on active federal service and whose license expired while deployed outside the US to remain valid for ninety days after return.

Committee on Transportation/Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, 10:45 a.m., Room 309
Chair: Rep. Joe Souki 586-9444
Chair: Rep. Ken Ito 586-8470

SB2816, SD1 RELATING TO INTRA-COUNTY FERRY SERVICE. Requires DLNR to assign priority mooring space to intra-county ferries serving a county with 500,000 or less people and at least 3 islands in habited by permanent residents. Exempts distributors from fuel tax for fuel sold for ultimate use by the intra-county ferry service.

SB3227, SD2 RELATING TO HARBORS. Expands the authority of the Aloha Tower Dev. Corp. to assist in the development of the statewide harbors modernization plan; authorizes the DOT to issue revenue bonds to finance the harbor improvements; transfers Hana Harbor, excluding its small boat ramp facility, to DOT.

Committee on Health, 11:00 a.m., Room 329
Chair: Rep. Josh Green 586-9605

HCR132 REQUESTING THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH TO FORM A WORK GROUP TO EXPLORE THE NEED TO BAN OR BETTER LABEL PRODUCTS CONTAINING THE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER ASPARTAME.

Committee on Education, 2:00 p.m., Room 309
Chair: Rep. Roy Takumi 586-6170

SB2164, SD3 RELATING TO EDUCATION. Establishes the Hawaii charter school facilities fund for funding the repair, maintenance, and other facilities needs of charter schools. Appropriates funds for the Hawaii charter school facilities fund.

Kahuku Hospital to become Kahuku Medical Center

A news conference was held today in anticipation of the Friday, March 14th closing of Kahuku Medical Center's acquisition of Kahuku Hospital. The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) and Kahuku Hospital will complete a $2.9 million transaction made possible by a bill passed by the Legislature last year. In the transaction, facilitated by the Department of Health, the assets of Kahuku Hospital will be acquired in bankruptcy by Kahuku Medical Center, a new non-profit organization established by HHSC, to operate the facility. The facility will be renamed Kahuku Medical Center.

Rep. Michael Magaoay, who represents District 46 including Kahuku, spoke to the media on the importance of saving the hospital for the residents of the North Shore.

Also on hand were left to right: Eric Beaver, Chair of the Kahuku Board of Directors; Senator Clayton Hee; Dr. Chiyome Fukino, Director of the Department of Health; Rep. Magaoay; Tom Driskill, President and CEO of HHSC; and Sheila Toluta'u, RN, a nurse at Kahuku Hospital.

House Honors the American Red Cross

Today, the House recognized March 2008 as American Red Cross Month. Here's Speaker Say with John Henry Felix, Chairman Emeritus of the Executive Committee of the American Red Cross - Hawaii State Chapter . Also honored today were CEO Coralie Chun Matayoshi and Chief of Staff Cindy Tanaka.

Natural disasters and traffic a big concern of Nanakuli residents

Natural disasters and traffic congestion were were a few of many concerns reiterated throughout Rep. Karen Awana's "Lawmaker's Listen" in Nanakuli last night with House leadership and committee chairs.

Photo (L-R): Kaiawe Makanani, Rep. Awana, Kimo Kelii.

Constituents asked the lawmakers to do more and work more swiftly to guard the Waianae Coast and all its residents from being completely wiped out in a natural disaster. It's time to stop pointing fingers and just get it done, one constituent said. Another asked the lawmakers whether nearby communities could even handle the intake of 30, 000 displaced residents, less than half of current residents, during a natural disaster. Because Kapolei and Makakilo wouldn't be capable of bearing the burden, the Waianae Coast must be self-sustainable, he said. He suggested more safe haven structures on the coast for residents to go to during a natural disaster.

Traffic was another hot topic last night. Some residents opposed the addition of car lanes to Farrington Highway. They feared for the safety of neighborhood children who already risk getting hurt by sprinting across the freeway to school. It would be harder to cross the highway and children will have to run faster across the lanes before getting hit. A school cross guard also mentioned the urgent need for more children crossing signs and school crosswalk lights.

One resident suggested the State develop a zipper lane solely for drivers heading to Nanakuli, Waianae, Ewa Beach and Waipahu. He said that it didn't matter if there was only one entrance from Honolulu because people would use it and it would alleviate traffic on H1 during rush hour.

Other concerns including the need for more frequent landfill and waste water treatment plant inspections and monitoring policies, and assistance with legislation that can help retain teachers at community public schools.

Photo (L-R): Kamaki Kanahele, Rep. Awana, Aunty Aggie Cope.

At the end of the meeting, Speaker Calvin Say urged the crowd to follow up with the representatives and persevere to see a project through. He told the audience that legislators and staff will work hard to address their concerns and that the public is an important part of making the magic happen at the Capitol.

Photo (Center): House leadership and committee chairs joined Rep. Karen Awana at a "Lawmakers Listen" community meeting in Nanakuli to listen to public concerns. (L-R) Rep. Awana, Rep. Shimabukuro, Rep. Mizuno, Vice Speaker Chong, Speaker Say, Majority Leader Caldwell, Rep. M. Oshiro, Rep. Brower, and Rep. Ito.

The Budget Bill Passes Third Reading

House members voted unanimously to pass HB2500, HD1, the Executive Budget bill on third reading. The bill crosses over to the Senate on Wednesday, the same day the Council on Revenues will meet and announce new state revenue projections. Below is the floor speech given the Finance Chair, Rep. Marcus Oshiro. The Committee Report is here.

HB 2500 HD1 – Executive Budget
Floor Speech of Finance Chair - Rep. Marcus Oshiro

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I am standing in support of HB 2500, HD 1, the Executive Budget.

First, let me thank all of the Committee Chairs for their contribution to this measure. Their insight and prioritization of programs were invaluable in crafting this budget.

Thank you also to members of the Finance Committee. They began the careful review of the Governor’s Supplemental Request four months ago in December and have used the Department Budget Briefings as opportunities to analyze and prioritize the thousands of expenditure decisions that make up the Executive Budget.

They have been diligent with their responsibility as members of the Finance Committee and have suffered long hours without any complaint but kept attentive to the hard choices before us and always respectful of differing opinions. Each in their own way has been instrumental in prioritizing expenditures and making reductions. All of you should be proud of the work product that is before us today.

I'd also like to thank the House Finance Staff for all their hard work this session. This budget is a culmination of the efforts of many. Although the budget analysts are the ones most directly involved, there are many issues in the budget that tie back to bills that we crossed a week ago. And none of these efforts could be possible without the backbone of the office – the young men and women you all see in the front office.

They're here with us today in the gallery, and with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to introduce them.

First the front office – Allison Lee, Mary Ann Kawano, Jeff Yamashiro, Casey Ching, Jo Hamasaki, and Tracy Kubota.

Researchers – Nicolette Rowe, Akio Adams, Erik Abe, Stacey Tagala, and Randall Hiyoto.

Budget Analysts – Leslie Goo, Lauren Endo, Daniel Han, Hunter Gradie, Jonathan Conner, Shaun Kindred, Stan Kubota, Puna Chai, Eric Nouchi and Michael Ng.

Special recognition is due the Vice Chair. She insured that members maintained their health and reminded all of us to avoid too much salt, exercise regularly, and attend to nature when she calls. She kept us moving forward during my absence and no better vice chair could one hope for.

Mr. Speaker, a year ago this Legislature was looking at robust revenue projections, and there was a lot of buzz about large surpluses. At the same time, however, there were several warning signs that the economy was beginning to slow. At this time last year, the Council on Revenues was projecting revenue growth at 6%. However, your committee did not believe that this would last.

As such, last year, we began the difficult task of scaling back state expenditures, while at the same time ensuring that critical programs were provided with responsible, sustainable funding. We ended the 2007 Regular Session with a package of bills and a budget that did not spend everything. We left a healthy ending balance, knowing that it would be needed if revenues did not meet projections. ($200 million by FY 2009 vs. the Governor's$43 million) We were socially progressive but fiscally conservative. But even that was not enough.

Surprisingly, our actions brought a lot of criticism from the Administration. In Op-Eds and Commentaries in local newspapers, Press Releases, and Blogs, several people in the Administration were saying that my cautious attitude about revenues was spreading "doom and gloom" and creating unnecessary panic.

They were asking:

"Why didn't we spend more?"

"Why didn't we give bigger tax cuts?"

"Why can't we have it all?"

Mr. Speaker, politicians often get a bum rap for "not looking ahead". Or not being able to look beyond the next election. The plain and simple truth is the budget we passed last year set us on a solid path to avoid whole-scale, debilitating cuts to state government this year.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard that the committee report attached to this budget offends some people. If any member of this Chamber feels offended I offer my sincere apology. Please know that any criticism therein was directed to the Executive Branch and not this Chamber nor the one across the way.

Furthermore, it was not meant to provoke, but simply set the record straight. Everything written in the committee report comes from published government reports, newspaper articles, written commentaries, press releases, and public speeches.

It is not conjecture.

It is not theory or conclusion.

It is not open to interpretation.

It is simple fact.

I am calling a spade, a spade.

Mr. Speaker . . .

As I mentioned earlier, we ended the 2007 Regular Session with a revenue projection of 6% for FY 2007. When the Council met at the end of May 2007, they revised that projection downward from 6% to 4%, causing an $80 million loss in projected revenue for FY 2007; and in total, a $290 million loss in projected revenue by FY 2009, the end of our budgeting period.

When we got to the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2007, actual revenue came in even lower than what was projected. Instead of the 4% projected by the Council, revenues came in at 3.4%. This meant that we actually collected about $100 million less than what had been projected when we ended session. That loss would translate out to more than $350 million by FY 2009.

The FY 2008 revenue projection went from 6% at Sine Die last year to 5.7% in September 2007 to the current 4.9%. In total, when you compare the Council's revenue projections that we worked with last year to where we are today, there is a $414 million loss in revenue by the end of FY 2009.

The Council is meeting once again in two days. I ask all of us in this Chamber. What do you think the Council will do? What will be the revised projections? What impact will it have upon the budget and Financial Plan?

This is not the time to say "I told you so." It is also not the time to point fingers at one another. It is time to prepare ourselves for a slowing economy – make due with what we have - and live within our means. It is time to face reality.

We must hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

This operating budget totals $5.3 billion in general funds and $10.7 billion in all means of financing. Mr. Speaker, this budget cuts state government by $67million – approximately 1.27 percent.

Mr. Speaker the budget before you cuts state government. People may ask, "What will the impacts of these cuts be?

Unfortunately, I do not know the particulars. I wish I did. But, I do know that someone’s ox will be gored. I asked the Governor and her Administration to work with us and I was told that they, "could not comply" with our request for information.

In the coming days and weeks I'm sure that we'll see exactly what the impacts of these cuts are going to be. I continue to hope that we can all work together on this. It is what the public demands and expects of each and every one of us.

Mr. Speaker, this is an honest budget. It doesn't create false expectations, or make empty promises. Moreover, I expect my counterpart in the Senate to conduct her own independent review and examination of the budget. I also expect that she will apply the Council of Revenues March Projections to the financial plan. In other words, I do not expect a rubber stamp approval by the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, there will be tough economic times ahead and equally tough decisions to be made. Therefore, let us put aside false expectations and personal legacies and brace ourselves for the inevitable economic downturn and its effects. With courage and compassion, being cordial and honest, let us pledge ourselves to work together to insure that core government services are maintained for the heath, safety, and welfare of all our people.

Toward this end, I humbly ask for the unanimous support of the members. THANK YOU.

Bills of interest for TUESDAY, MARCH 11

Committee on Human Services & Housing, 8:30 a.m., Room 329
Chair, Rep. Maile Shimabukuro 586-8460

SB2218, SD1 RELATING TO ELECTRONIC MONITORING. Requires electronic monitoring of persons convicted of violating a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or protective order.

SB2886, SD1 RELATING TO CHILD ABANDONMENT. Increases child abandonment to a class C felony and renames the offense to child abandonment in the first degree. Establishes the offense of child abandonment in the second degree and makes it a misdemeanor to abandon a child by leaving the child with a person in reckless disregard of the risk that the person is not who the person claims to be or has no ascertainable address.

SB2212, SD1 RELATING TO CRIME. Enables prosecution of human trafficking under Hawaii law by creating new offense of sexual exploitation of a minor, amending existing kidnapping, extortion, and prostitution offenses, and including sexual exploitation of a minor in definition of racketeering.

Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns, 8:30 a.m., Room 325
Chair, Rep. Kyle Yamashita 586-6330

SB2530, SD2 RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS. Requires group health issuers to offer small group health plans to self-employed individuals who are licensed by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and are located in the group issuer's service areas.

SB2824, SD2 RELATING TO PROCUREMENT. Requires private moneys received by the State to cover costs and expenses of state-sponsored trips and goodwill endeavors to deposited into the general fund.

SB2169, SD1 RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES. Establishes winery class of liquor license. Authorizes wineries to sell wine for consumption off-premises.

Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, 9:00 a.m., Room 312
Chair, Rep. Hermina Morita 586-8435

SB2841 RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM. Requires retail dealer with more than 75,000 square feet of retail space to operate redemption centers.

SB2843, SD2 RELATING TO ELECTRONIC DEVICE RECYCLING. Establishes a state program for collection, recycling, enforcement, and monitoring of covered electronic devices.

SB2571, SD1 RELATING TO FOOD WASTE RECYCLING. Requires the Department of Education, in a partnership with the Department of Health, to establish a three-year food waste recycling pilot project within one or more public schools.

SB2932, SD3 RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE TAX. Increases the state environmental response tax on petroleum in order to increase funding available for energy conservation, alternative energy development, global warming initiatives, and other programs pursuant to chapter 128D, HRS.

Committee on Judiciary, 2:00 p.m., Room 325
Chair, Rep. Tommy Waters 586-9450

SB1961, SD1 RELATING TO BAIL. Creates a licensing requirement for bail bond agents. Prohibits certain acts by bail bonds agents.

SB2204, SD1 RELATING TO CAMPAIGN SPENDING. Clarifies campaign spending law relating to electronic filing of reports; clarifies that "ordinary and customary" expenditures are allowable under campaign spending law; clarifies that the campaign spending commission shall not issue rules through the issuance of an advisory opinion; clarifies that in the case of a corporation or company using funds from its own treasury, there shall be no limit on contributions or expenditures to the corporation or company non-candidate committee; clarifies who is subject to administrative fines for violations relating to campaign contributions and expenditures; double the amount a candidate can transfer from campaign or surplus funds to a community or charitable organization.

SB711 RELATING TO TAXATION. Establishes a ten-year statute of limitations on tax collections. Clarifies that the three-year statute of limitations on tax assessments for the general excise tax, use tax, and other period taxes begins running from the filing of each periodic return.

SB2562, SD1 RELATING TO VOTING. Authorizes permanent absentee voting.

Lawmakers hold meetings on East Hawaii

WHAT: In a joint effort to address concerns of Big Island residents, State Senate and House lawmakers will hold more "Legislators Listen" community meetings in Hilo, Kea'au, Pahoa, Pahala and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates (HOVE). Previous meetings were held Feb. 23 in Laupahoehoe, Honoka'a, Waimea, North Kohala, Waikoloa and Kealakekua.

Big Island legislators look forward to comments and suggestions from community members on issues of concern and any bills that are of personal interest. Legislators will highlight bills that have crossed over and are still going through the legislative process.

WHO: Rep. Jerry Chang (D-2nd S. Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha), Rep. Cindy Evans (D-7th N. Kona, S. Kohala), Rep. Josh Green (D-6th Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau), Rep. Faye P. Hanohano (D-4th Pahoa, Hawaiian Acres, Kalapana), Rep. Robert N. Herkes (D-5th Puna, Ka'u, S. Kona), Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye (D-1st (Hilo, Honoka'a, Laupahoehoe, Hamakua, Keaukaha, Waimea), Sen. Russell S. Kokubun (D-2nd Waiakea Uka, Kalapana, Volcano, Kahuku), Rep. Dwight Y. Takamine (D-1st N. Kohala, Hamakua, N. Hilo), Rep. Clift Tsuji(D-3rd S. Hilo, Panaewa, Kea'au, Kurtistown)

WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, March 15, 2008

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Hilo – UH-Hilo, UCB 127
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Kea'au – Kea'au Elementary School Cafeteria
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Pahoa – Pahoa High School Cafeteria
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Volcano – Cooper Center
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Pahala – Ka'u Hospital Conference Room
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. HOVE – Kahuku Park

Hundreds show up for Grant-in-Aid briefing

The State Capitol Auditorium started to fill up early on this Saturday morning. For the first time, the House Finance Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee decided to open up the review process and invite all the applicants for Grants-in-Aid to come before the money committees to discuss their request and answer any questions in person. Today was set aside for Oahu applicants; Wednesday is the day for Neighbor Island applicants.

They came from the arts, human service organizations, health care facilities, business development, and even a Franciscan monk.

Due to the sheer number of testifiers, applicants were taken in alphabetical order and limited to 3 minutes. Many took much less than that, standing on their written application. After about 10 to 15 testifiers, the committee broke to ask questions, and then proceeded with the next group.

Deena Dray, Diamond Head Theater, was first to get a laugh. "Diamond Head Theater is perhaps best known for the Grid Iron Show," she said, referring to the successful theatrical review by Hawaii journalists, satirizing and roasting local politicans. "I want to assure you that we have nothing to do with putting on that show, or those nasty journalists."

Chair of Finance Marcus Oshiro asked all applicants that if they received an appropriation last year, what is the status of those funds. Almost all the applicants responded that they are still waiting for the money to be released by the Governor.

Here are some random comments heard throughout the day:

"We are requesting the funds because of the suddenness of the appearance of varroa mites and the urgency to contain it. The Department of Agriculture has no program to address the problem." Michael Kliks, Hawaii Beekeepers Association.

"Other than antibiotics, today's pharmaceuticals address the symptoms of disease, but they don't cure them. We are a society that spends billions of dollars on disease care, not health care. Why not spend a few hundred thousand for preventive healthcare, rather than millions for pharmaceuticals that cure nothing." Terry Shintani, Hawaii Institute of Integrative Health.

"We currently save about 65-70 lives through organ donors. We believe we can increase that number by 35-50 more lives with a statewide organ donor online registry." Hawaii Organ Procurement Organization.

"My great grandfather was a houseboy at Iolani Palace during the reign of Queen Liliuokalani, and my grandfather, Ellery Chun, was the founder of the Aloha Shirt." Dan Chun, Hawaiian Island Ministries.

"Since opening, we've had 120,000 visitors and 6,000 school children visiting the museum. We've moving from a Hawaii level project to a national level." Pacific Aviation Museum.

"The Hokulea - today is her 33rd birthday. She's sailed over 125,000 miles and is on her third generation of sailors, trained navigators, and a whole host of community supporters." Bruce Blankenfeld, Polynesian Voyaging Society.

"The Sisters have determined that the best thing they can do to help people is to be more pro-active rather than reactive to healthcare." St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii.

"We are in the computer age, and the world is passing me by during my incarceration." Representative from TJ Mahoney & Associates, on the comment of a woman prisoner, regarding their request for computer technology funding.

"My heart has been warmed by hearing about the many organizations who are working to help others." Waianae Coast Christian Women's Job Corps representative, after complaints about the room being so cold.

In closing, Chair Oshiro mentioned that there are three state agencies that have not yet responded with their reviews of the grant applications, which is part of the legislature's criteria for selection. They are Department of Health, Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The briefing started at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 2:00 p.m.

Bills of interest for Monday, March 10th

Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs, Room 312, 9:00 a.m.
Chair: Rep. Ken Ito

Purchase of Turtle Bay
SB2423, SD2 Relating to Land Acquisition. Directs the Governor, or the Governor's designee, to acquire lands owned by Kuilima Resort Company, Oaktree Capitol, LLC, and their successor in interest, commonly known as Turtle Bay Hotel and Resort located in Kahuku, Oahu.

Committee on Transportation, Rooom 309, 10:00 a.m.
Chair: Rep. Joseph Souki

Ignition Interlock Device
SB3234, SD2 Relating to Highway Safety. Requires installation of ignition interlock device on the vehicle of a person arrested for driving under the influence that prevents the person from starting or operating a motor vehicle with more than a minimal alcohol concentration while the person's case in pending and while the person's license is revoked pursuant to chapter 291E, HRS.

Waiving driver's test
SB2094, SD2 Relating to Driver Licenses. Permits the examiner of drivers to waive the test of knowledge of the rules of the road for applicants holding a valid driver's license from another state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, a province of the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, or any of the federal government's political subdivisions, territories, or commonwealths.

Hybrids and HOV lanes
SB2365, SD1 Relating to Transportation. Provides that high occupancy vehicle lanes may be used by hybrid and other energy-efficient vehicles, regardless of the number of occupants.

Unattended Children in Motor Vehicles
SB2245, SD1 Relating to Unattended Children in Motor Vehicles. Makes it a violation of the statewide traffic code to leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle.

Just in case you missed it...

Reps. Michael Magaoay and John Mizuno, and Glen Hayashida of the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii, were on the KHON 2 morning show today talking with Kirk Matthews about a house bill that seeks a public-private partnership to develop an awareness, testing, and treatment program for kidney disease in Hawaii. HB2913 HD1, authored by Rep. Magaoay, has moved forward to the Senate for more action.

Hawaii has 156,000 residents with chronic kidney disease and another 100,000 have a high probability of developing this disease. Because there are no major symptoms, people may be unaware of their condition and only discover it when major damage occurs. Early detection and an increase in community awareness of the prevalence of kidney disease in Hawaii can help slow down the progression of this silent disease.

UPCOMING KIDNEY DISEASE AWARENESS EVENTS:

Rep. Magaoay will be in Washington, D.C. to support World Kidney Day with other elected officials on March 13, 2008.

FREE -- that's a $200 savings! -- Kidney Early Detection Screening at the Capitol, provided by the House and the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii. Screenings will be in Rm. 423 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

To pre-register, please contact Rep. Mizuno's office at 586-6050.

Photo: Rep. John Mizuno and Rep. Michael Magaoay telling anchorman Kirk Matthews about the importance of creating programs for kidney disease on the KHON 2 Morning Show.

A bowl of poi, please -- sans escargot.

Taro farmers may well be on their way to ridding their patches of a pest that has accounted for up to 25 percent of crop losses for more than a decade.

The apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) creates holes that make taro susceptible to disease, and eats the stem off young plants, killing them before maturity.

Committed to the survival of taro farming as a business and, more importantly, as a tradition that is part of the Hawaiian culture, farmers partnered with Pacific Diesel, a Maui business that produces renewable fuels, to develop creative solutions. Farmers in Kauai have mastered an organic crop-cover technique and Pacific Biodiesel has developed a organic soil conditioner that can augment the mortality rate of snails. Both initiatives were privately funded.

Seeking grants to further the development of a strategic control plan of the apple snail, Rep. Mele Carroll introduced House Bill 3423, a measure that provides grants for research, documentation and development of newly developed controls of the invasive apple snail. The bill is still alive this session and must be approved in the Senate before going to the Governor for signing.

"We must protect kalo and the ability to farm it in the traditional way with all the tools and resources at our disposal," said Rep. Carroll. "As a community, we must spread the word about the apple snail's threat to kalo."

This in not the first attempt, nor method used, to control the invasion of snails the state. Since arriving in Hawaii to be harvested and sold as escargot to high end restaurants and local markets, taro farmers have tried hand picking snails off of plants; importing ducks to eat the snails; using electric shock methods; and creating pest-for-profit programs that would collect, harvest and sell snails to local restaurants and vendors.

None of them worked - the snails would populate quicker than farmers could pick; stray dogs killed off large portions of duck flocks; the snails survived the electric shock currents that ran through water streams; and Hawaii just didn't have a substantial market for escargot.

Photo: Like Hawaii, crops in Taiwan, China, Japan and Guam have been threatened by the apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata), originally from Argentina. (Honolulu Advertiser, "Taro production hits record low.")

Rep. Karen Awana Hosts Lawmakers Listen

Lawmakers Listen is an outreach program by the House of Representatives to give residents an opportunity to ask questions of and interact with House leadership and various committee chairs. Rep. Karen Awana (District 44 – Honokai Hale, Nanakuli, Lualualei) will host a "Lawmakers Listen" Community Meeting for residents of the Waianae Coast.

WHEN: Monday, March 10, 2008
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Nanaikapono Elementary School
89-153 Mano Avenue
Nanakuli

Speaker Calvin Say; Vice Speaker Pono Chong; Rep. Marcus Oshiro, Chair of Finance; Rep. Maile Shimabukuro, Chair of Housing & Human Services; Rep. John Mizuno, Vice Chair of Health, and others will be joining Rep. Awana in Nanakuli.

House and Senate to Hold Briefing on GIA's

Representative Marcus Oshiro, chair of the House Finance Committee, announced today that the committee will hold two joint informational briefings with the Senate Ways and Means Committee on all grants-in-aid applications submitted to the 2008 Legislature.

The first informational briefing, for Oahu applicants, will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at the State Capitol in the Capitol Auditorium located on the Chamber level. It will start at 9:00 a.m. and go until completion.

The second informational briefing will include Neighbor Island applicants and will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. until completion.

This year, the Legislature received 250 applications for a total request of $156,457,762. Given the number of applicants, the chairs of the committees will be conducting the briefing under the following rules:

1. Only one representative per application will be called to provide information and answer questions.
2. Each representative will be allowed no more than three minutes to provide any additional information.
3. Applicants will be heard in alphabetical order.

Applicants are NOT required to attend the joint informational briefings, and all grants-in-aid applications will be duly considered regardless of whether the applicants attend the briefing.

Additionally, representatives of the State administration, who are responsible for the release and distribution of funds appropriated by the Legislature, have been asked to be present. They will be consulted on their respective analyses of the various requests and are to be available for questions by the committee members.

The GIA Process

The following guidelines are used as criteria for the Legislature in decision making. The applicant:

1. Must address health, safety, welfare and/or community needs.
2. Must have had their application reviewed by the state agency to which funds would be appropriated for expenditure.
3. Must be accredited in accordance with federal, state and county statutes.
4. Must comply with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination.
5. Must agree not to use state funds for entertainment or lobbying.
6. Must comply with all requirements of HRS 42F-103.

In addition to the informational briefings, the applications are posted on the Capitol website, www.capitol.hawaii.gov. The general public may download a list of applicants and view the applications on the website; all personal and sensitive information is redacted. The site also contains an email link for those who wish to comment directly on any of the applications.

Parents want reps to pass Dylan's Law

We received eight separate emails from parents with autistic children urging House representatives to say "YES" to HB 2727 HD2, also known as "Dylan's Law", in our Outlook email box today. The emails were sent to all House permanent staff members. We're assuming that they also sent support letters to the representative's themselves, the people who will be voting on this measure tomorrow in third reading before being passed over to the Senate.

The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Tommy Waters, would make applied behavior analysis for autistic children covered under medical insurance. Currently parents must seek out treatment on their own and usually have to pay the full medical bill.

Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York and Tennessee already have laws that mandate autism insurance coverage.

In California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Virginia, laws require insurers to cover autism like any other mental illness.

Here is what they had to say:

PLEASE VOTE YES TO DYLANS LAW HB2727 [sic]I AM A GRANDPARENT OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD AND WE DESPRATLY [sic] NEED HELP..THANK YOU.

Dear Representatives,
As a parent of a child with autism, I am urging you to please vote yes to Dylan's Law HB272. It will change the lives of many here in Hawaii affected with autism!
Sincerely,
Kainoa's Mom

Dear all honorable :

I am mother of a three years old son [sic] with autism. He's been around in this world for only 40 months and it is too early to give up on his life. This bill will open up the door to different interventions that we are currently unable to afford. Your support means the world to my little boy Tyler. Please help us and other parents like us reach every autistic child to their full potential. With your help, we believe they'll learn to speak and one day they will come and say thank you to you in person.

Please vote YES for HB2727!

Dear Representatives:

As a mother of a child with autism, I STRONGLY URGE you to vote "YES" for HB2727. We and other families in our situation really need the help of health insurance companies. We are in a lot of debt because of treatments and therapies for our son. PLEASE HELP US!

Thank you very much for your time.

Aloha Mai,
I strongly support HB2727 and ask that you please vote YES for this very important bill regarding health insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorers.
Mahalo

House Representatives,
Please vote yes that you will give all children with Autism a fighting chance to recover or progress to becoming independent productive tax payer instead of a ward of the state, and dependent on managed care.

Children with Autism do not outgrow this disorder nor do they get better without therapy. Without therapy they often times will get worse, can become violent, and become unmanageable. If you wait until then it will be to late. Any intervention from this point will be managed care.

The insurance companies believe that Autism is an emotional and behavioral problem. This is old outdated information, and no longer true.

No matter how much psychotherapy is devoted to an Autistic person, they will not improve.

Autism is a neurobiological disorder. They have the capacity to learn and function like us. However, their brain structures are wired differently from neurotypical brains.

When you turn the switch to a neurotypical brain on, the lights automatically turn on one by one, and begin to operate like a well oiled machine without any assistance.

When you turn the switch to an Autistic brain on, some of the lights go on, but not all, and the machine does not operate smoothly. As a result, WE have to go in and manually turn the lights on one by one and make sure they stay on. Once the machine is operating smoothly. We can then walk away.

Please say Yes to Dylan's Law. Please give children with Autism a chance to either recover or progress on to independence.

Grrrl Power!

Since it's Girl's Day, we thought we'd highlight the 2008 Women's Legislative Caucus package. The Women's Caucus is bi-partisan and advocates for legislation that supports the needs of women and families.

In the House, 18 out of 51 members are women, and they are: Karen Awana, Della Au Belatti, Lyla Berg, Rida Cabanilla, Mele Carroll, Corinne Ching, Cindy Evans, Lynn Finnegan, Faye Hanohano, Sharon Har, Marilyn Lee, Sylvia Luke, Barbara Marumoto, Colleen Meyer, Hermina Morita, Kymberly Pine, Maile Shimabukuro, and Cynthia Thielen. The Senate is led by Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, and 7 of 25 members are women. In addition to Madame President, they are: Rosalyn Baker, Suzanne Chun Oakland, Carol Fukunaga, Lorraine Inouye, Donna Mercado Kim, Jill Tokuda.

Here's what's alive in the Women's Legislative Caucus package:

HB464, HD2 and companion SB1117. Medically accurate sex education. Requires recipients of state funding that provide sexual health education to provide medically accurate, factual information that is age-appropriate and includes education on both abstinence and contraception.

HB466, HD1 and companion SB1110. Emergency contraception. Requires a hospital, including a public health facility, to provide information and emergency contraception to a sexual assault victim; requires training; includes penalties.

HB2761, HD1 and companion SB2207. Post-partum care for QUEST participants. Requires at least 6 months post-partum and interconception care for women of childbearing age who are participants in the Hawaii QUEST health insurance program.

HB2763, HD1 and companion SB2211. Task Force for children of incarcerated parents. Re-establishes the children of incarcerated parents task force, which ceased to exist on December 31, 2007. Appropriates funds.

HB2766, HD2 and companion SB2218. Electronic monitoring of domestic abuse and TRO violators. Allows the courts to require electronic monitoring of persons convicted of violating a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or protective order. Appropriates funds for offenders who cannot afford to pay for costs associated with the monitoring device.

HB2770, HD1 and companion SB2214. Bridge to Hope program. Expands the Bridge to Hope Program to enable all heads of households receiving financial assistance and participating in the First-to-Work Program to pursue education beyond the federal limit of one-year of vocational education.

HB2772, HD3. Human trafficking. Extends the sunset date for the Hawaii Anti-trafficking Task Force to 2010. Amends composition of the Task Force. Appropriates funds.

HCR51 and companions HR50, SR14 and SCR20. Cervical cancer vaccinations. REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ASSESS THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF REQUIRING CERVICAL CANCER VACCINATIONS FOR GIRLS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE SEVENTH GRADE.

And here's what died:

HB2762, HD1 and companion SB2208. Rental housing eviction protection. Prohibits a landlord from evicting a rental housing tenant solely on the basis that the tenant is a victim of domestic violence.

HB2764, HD1 and companion SB2209. Bill of Rights for children of incarcerated parents.

HB2765, HD1. Sexual exploitation of a minor. Companion SB2212 is alive.

HB2767 and companion SB2216. Pilot project for prostitution prevention program.

HB2768 and companion SB2213. Advisory Board on Veterans' Services.

HB2769. Country of origin labeling for meat. Companion SB2215 is alive.

HB2771 and companion SB2210. Bridge to Hope eligibility requirements.

HB2773 and companion SB2217. DNA collection on arrested felons.

HB2774. Post-pregnancy care for QUEST participants. Companion SB2219 is alive.

As the Lege Turns

Tired of your usual daytime TV fare? You can catch the House and Senate third reading sessions tomorrow on Olelo public access. The House session starts at 9:00 a.m. and will be cablecast on Oceanic, Channel 53. The Senate session starts at 10:00 a.m. and will be cablecast on Oceanic, Channel 49. Both will also go live to the Neighbor Islands via HITS.

Update: I learned this morning, thanks to a comment, that the sessions are also streamed live on Olelo.org.