The the State of Hawai’i, Office of the Legislature, has released the following list of Bills of Interest that are scheduled to come beore the state Legislature’s various committees Wednesday and Thursday this week:
Hearing:
| RELATING TO FUNDS.Addresses the auditor’s recommendations regarding the transfer of non-general funds to the general fund. | |
| RELATING TO TAXATION.Repeals the temporary limit on the amount of itemized deductions that may be claimed by certain taxpayers. |
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_02-29-12_.HTM
decision making: Requires businesses in the State to collect a fee for single-use checkout bags provided to a customer; Requires the department of the attorney general to establish a working group to coordinate services for survivors of human trafficking in new and existing communities;
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_02-29-12_DM_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY & COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND LABOR
Decision making: RELATING TO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION.
Eliminates the requirement to post hard-copy notices of public meetings with the office of the lieutenant governor; requires all government agencies, boards, commissions, and committees to post electronic copies of their agendas, minutes, and related documents online and transmit electronic copies, rather than hard copies, of meeting notices to persons who request notification.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_EDT-JDL_02-2-12_DEFER_.HTM
OMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND LABOR
RELATING TO ANATOMICAL GIFTS.
Requires a person to whom an anatomical gift passes to accept the gift if it is medically suitable for transplantation, therapy, research, or education
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDL_02-29-12-1_.HTM
RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY.
Requires specified persons who won, control, or have custody or control of ten or more dogs over age four months with intact sexual organs to meet minimum standards of care to ensure the proper treatment and care of dogs and the dogs’ offspring. Prohibits any person from owning or having custody of more than thirty dogs over age of one year with intact sexual organs.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDL_02-29-12_.HTM
RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS.
Amends various statutory provisions to reconfirm and clarify the original intent of Act 1 (2011) that civil union partners shall have all the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities under law as are granted to those who contract, obtain a license, and are solemnized pursuant to chapter 572. Makes various housekeeping amendments to statutes to assist with the implementation and interpretation of Act 1, including with respect to property held as tenants by the entirety, establishment of parent-child relationships, and adoption. (Proposed SD1)
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDL_02-29-12-2_.HTM
RELATING TO PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Allows the scanning and retention of personal information contained in a Hawaii identification card or driver’s license by certain specified entities for limited purposes. (SD1)
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDL_02-29-12-4_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON WATER, LAND, AND HOUSING & COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND LABOR
RELATING TO KAKAAKO.
Allows two lots in the makai area of the Kakaako community development district to be developed as residential properties that are exempt from public facilities fees; provided that at least twenty per cent of the unites are designated for residents in low- or moderate- income ranges.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_WLH-JDL_02-29-12_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION & COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Decision making:
RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES.
Differentiates between “geothermal resources exploration” and “geothermal resources development”. Designates “geothermal resources exploration” and “geothermal resources development” as permitted uses in all state land use districts and conservation district zones. Repeals geothermal resource subzone provisions under state land use law. (SD1)
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_CPN-WAM_02-29-12_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY & COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
RELATING TO GAMBLING.
Establishes a gambling commission that is exempt from section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to perform a comprehensive analysis of the social and financial costs and benefits of different types of gambling and their impacts on the State in order for legislators to make informed policy decisions regarding gambling. Appropriates funds to perform the analysis. (Proposed SD1).
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_EDT-WAM_02-29-12_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
Decision making on several bills including: tattoo artists, vocational licensing
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_CPN_02-29-12_DEFER_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY & COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
REQUESTING THE EXTENSION OF THE PROMPT PAYMENT TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT AFFECT PROMPT PAYMENT FOR GOODS AND SERVICES PURCHASED THROUGH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING HUMAN SERVICE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DELIVER PIVOTAL GOODS AND SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_EDT-PGM_02-29-12_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
| REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL KOREANS BY DIRECTING THE PLACEMENT OF A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE DESIGNATING THE FORMER SITE OF THE KOREAN CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE. | |
| REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO RECOGNIZE LOCAL KOREANS BY DIRECTING THE PLACEMENT OF A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE DESIGNATING THE FORMER SITE OF THE KOREAN BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND THE KOREAN METHODIST CHURCH |
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_EDT_02-29-12_.HTM
RELATING TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
Clarifies that the information technology steering committee shall consist of thirteen members: four members to be selected by the senate president, four members to be selected by the speaker of the house of representatives, and four members to be selected by the chief information officer, with the chief information officer to serve as the chair.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_EDT_02-29-12-1_.HTM
MARCH 1
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Public Utilities Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee, MICHAEL CHAMPLEY, for a term to expire 6-30-2016.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_CPN_03-01-12_.HTM
Decision Making:
RELATING TO AERONAUTICS.
Prohibits the department of transportation from assessing landing fees upon air carriers that provide interisland service, except between the most populous island in the State and any other island in the State.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_03-01-12_DEFER_.HTM
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_WAM_03-01-12_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND LABOR & COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
Decision making: RELATING TO THE PUBLIC TRUST LANDS.
Conveys Kakaako Makai lands to Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and resolves all disputes and controversies, and extinguishes, discharges and bars all claims, suits, and actions relating to OHA’s portion of income and proceeds from the public trust lands for the period November 7, 1978 through June 30, 2012
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDL-WAM_03-01-12_DEFER_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND LABOR
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDL_03-01-12_.HTM
decision making:
RELATING TO OPIHI HARVESTING AND POSSESSION RESTRICTIONS.
Establishes a ban on taking or harvesting opihi statewide, subject to open and closed sessions and traditional gathering rights and practices. Prohibits the taking or harvesting of opihi for non-commercial purposes in an amount greater than one quart with shells attached or one half pint without shells per day. Requires the department of land and natural resources to submit an annual report regarding effectiveness and enforcement. Establishes until 06/30/17 a moratorium on the harvesting of opihi on Oahu.
RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.
Implements the 2011 recommendations of the mortgage foreclosure task force, and other best practices, to address various issues relating to the mortgage foreclosures law and related issues affecting homeowner association liens and the collection of unpaid assessments. Repeals the nonjudicial foreclosure process under part I of chapter 667, HRS. Makes permanent the mortgage foreclosure dispute resolution program and the process for converting nonjudicial foreclosures of residential property into judicial foreclosures. Repeals the provision excluding participants of the dispute resolution program from converting nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings to judicial actions
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDL_03-01-12_DEFER_.HTM
REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A HOTEL ABOVE THE HAWAII CONVENTION CENTER FACILITY.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_TSM_03-01-12_.HTM
decision making: RELATING TO LAND USE.
Repeals the prohibition on agricultural tourism activities in the absence of a bona fide farming operation. Repeals the prohibition on ordinances that allow overnight accommodations in agricultural districts. Authorizes short-term rentals of thirty-one days or less, for any one stay within a county; provided that the appropriate county has adopted an ordinance that specifically authorizes such use in agricultural districts.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_TSM_3-1-12-2_.HTM
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
RELATING TO PUBLIC LAND LEASEHOLDERS RIGHTS.
Requires the board of land and natural resources to seek input from existing lessees as part of its evaluation to determine whether to award a lease to a renewable energy producer.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/hearingnotices/HEARING_ENE_03-01-12_.HTM
For more information on bills and hearings: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/
