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Overall, the Legislature followed through on its overarching goal of promoting sustainability for the State, whether it be for basic infrastructural improvements, educational facility repair and maintenance, ensuring a viable agriculture industry, promoting alternative energy use, or pursuing innovative means to ensure affordable health care, the Legislature addressed numerous "bread and butter" and "pocketbook" issues.
1. Harbors Modernization
Understanding the need to repair and upgrade the State's existing harbor facilities to meet the 21st Century needs of our residents, the Legislature passed a major capital improvement projects bill to modernize the State's commercial harbors.
SB3227 SD2 HD1 CD1, Relating to Harbors
Authorizes the Department of Transportation to issue over $124,375,000 in harbor revenue bonds to finance the harbor improvements on all major islands of the State.
Expands the authority of the Aloha Tower Development Corporation to assist in the development of the statewide harbors modernization plan by establishing the Harbors Modernization Group. Requires the harbors modernization group to have jurisdiction over the harbors projects (Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Kawaihae, Kalaeloa, Nawiliwili harbors)
Provides that the disposition of public lands for maritime related operation to be a maximum term of 70 years.
2. University of Hawaii Capital Improvements
After receiving national attention over the disrepair of the University of Hawaii's athletic and academic facilities, the Legislature took the lead in resolving this problem by being proactive, providing $158 million (Governor's original request was $100 million) for repair and maintenance and new construction projects.
PROJECTS FUNDED
• Health, safety and code requirements: $1.4 million
• Repair and maintenance: $58.5 million
• Women's locker room improvements, UH-Manoa: $2.5 million
• Air-conditioning retrofits, UH-Manoa: $2.5 million
• Information technology center: $3.7 million
• New classroom building, UH-Manoa: $7.5 million
• Science building, Maui Community College: $25 million
• Campus Center renovations, UH-Manoa: $21.5 million
• Cooke Field improvements, UH-Manoa: $1.2 million
• Les Murakami Stadium repairs, UH-Manoa: $386,000
• Regional biocontainment lab, UH-Manoa: $22 million
• Hawai'i Community College development: $11.2 million
• Youth project, community college system: $200,000
3. Important Agricultural Lands/Protecting Prime Agricultural Lands
To ensure that the State will always have prime agricultural lands for farmers to farm so that we will be able to sustain a viable agricultural industry capable of feeding our residents, the Legislature passed legislation that triggers the process to protect important agricultural lands (IALs). In addition, the Legislature also authorized the Governor to purchase such agricultural lands through the State Budget and separate legislation to acquire former Galbraith Estate lands in Wahiawa. Finally, providing farmers with reasonable lease terms on state-owned agricultural lands and an efficient means to manage these agricultural leases will also help ensure the long term viability of Hawaii's agricultural industry.
SB2646 SD2 HD2 CD1, Relating to Important Agricultural Lands.
Requires the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources to jointly identify the public lands that should be designated as important agricultural lands.
Provides an important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost income tax credit of 25 per cent of the lesser of the qualified agricultural costs or $625,000 reduced to 10 per cent or $125,000 by the 3rd year.
Authorizes the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to guaranty loans made by commercial lenders authorized to do business in the State, to agricultural producers for the purpose of developing and implementing agricultural projects.
Amends the State Water Code to require each water use and development plan to identify sources of water used by agricultural operations and particularly those on important agricultural lands and identify current and future water needs for agricultural operations on important agricultural lands.
Requires priority processing of permit applications and renewals at no additional cost for agricultural processing facilities that process crops and livestock from an agribusiness which uses important agricultural lands.
Provides that the designation of important agricultural lands not be subject to the district boundary amendment process, and requires the Land Use Commission to designate the public lands as important agricultural lands and adopt the maps of those public lands.
Transfers the authority to manage, administer, and exercise control over any public lands designated important agricultural lands to the Department of Agriculture.
Provides that a petition for a declaratory order to designate lands as important agricultural lands and that seeks reclassification of land in an agricultural district to rural, urban, or conservation district may be submitted to the Land Use Commission. Requires authorization (super majority adoption of a concurrent resolution) by the Legislature for the Commission to rescind a designation of important agricultural lands.
HB2293 HD1 SD2 CD2, Relating to Agriculture
Authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to purchase agricultural lands located in central Oahu and owned by the Galbraith Estate, and issues $13 million in revenue bonds (in the State Budget) for the purchase and establishes that agricultural leases for these lands may be for up to 55 years. Requires the ADC to work with a negotiating team to review and make recommendations regarding any potential transactions.
Provides that if an agreement to acquire the property identified is not reached within a reasonable time as determined by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the DLNR shall exercise its power of eminent domain to acquire the property.
Allows the Agribusiness Development Corporation to contract with a financial institution that is transacting business in this State to provide lease management services for agricultural leases of ADC-controlled lands.
4. Energy and Environment
With regard to the environment, the Legislature sought to, among other things, promote the use of alternative energy in residential dwellings by reducing the State's reliance on foreign oil, clarify the State's environmental review process in the aftermath of the Superferry controversy, and divert electronic waste (e-waste) from our landfills.
SB0644 SD3 HD3 CD1, Relating to Energy Resources
The bill requires home builders to include solar water heaters in new single-family dwellings beginning in 2010. Variances would be allowed if an engineer or architect finds that solar would be impractical because of insufficient sunshine, would cost more than would be saved by lower utility bills, or if an alternative renewable energy system is used.
Under the bill, the existing solar energy tax credit would be available for homes built before 2010.
Advocates say such law is expected to cut electricity costs for an average new home by 30 percent to 35 percent. That would mean 5,000 new homes would collectively save about $3 million a year and cut thousands of tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
According to the Sierra Club of Hawaii, a major backer of the bill, the legislation wouldcut about $1,000 a year from the electricity bill of an average home on Kauai.
HB2688, HD1, Making Appropriations to Provide for the Expenses of the Legislature, the Auditor, Legislative Reference Bureau, and the Ombudsman.
Appropriates $300,000 for the LRB to contract with the University of Hawaii to:
(1) Examine the effectiveness of the current environmental review system created by chapters 341, 343, and 344, Hawaii Revised Statutes (environmental review process);
(2) Assess the unique environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues in Hawaii that should be incorporated into an environmental review system;
(3) Address larger concerns and interests related to sustainable development, global environmental change, and disaster-risk reduction; and
(4) Develop a strategy, including legislative recommendations, for modernizing Hawaii's environmental review system so that it meets international and national best-practices standards.
SB2843 SD2 HD3 CD1, Relating to Electronic Device Recycling
Establishes the Electronic Waste Recycling Act that prohibits all manufacturers and retailers from selling or offering for sale any new covered electronic device for delivery in the State unless the device is labeled with a brand included in a registration that is filed with the Department of Health (DOH) and such label is permanently affixed and readily visible effective January 1, 2010.
Requires the DOH to maintain a list, posted on the department's website and available over a toll free telephone number, of each registered manufacturer and the brands reported in each manufacturer's registration and a list of brands for which no manufacturer has registered.
Requires the manufacturer to pay a registration fee and submit a plan to the DOH to establish conduct, and manage a program for the collection, transportation, and recycling of its covered electronic devices sold in the State.
Provides that by March 31, 2011, and annually thereafter, each manufacturer shall submit to the DOH the total weight of all covered electronic devices recycled in the previous year.
Requires retailers to make available to their customers information on collection services in the State and to maintain and update a website and a toll free number with current information on where covered entities can return covered electronic devices for recycling.
Empowers the DOH and the Attorney General to enforce and take necessary action against any manufacturer or retailer for failure to comply.
Establishes a temporary working group within the department of health to develop a plan to establish, to conduct, and manage a program for the collection, transportation, and recycling of televisions sold in the State to be implemented no later than January 1, 2010.
5. Health Care
With the state and national economies slowing down, the Legislature is very cognizant of how a slowing economy impacts access to health care and its affordability. In the aftermath of the closing of Molokai Ranch, Aloha Airlines, and ATA, the Legislature raced to ensure that the children of dislocated employees would still have some sort of health insurance coverage. In the waning hours of the legislative session, the Legislature was able to find and pass a suitable measure to address this problem. The Legislature passed a number of initiatives to stem the tide of health insurance coverage and to keep health care affordable.
SB0069 SD2 HD3 CD1, Relating to Health Care
Amends Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, relating to a children's health care pilot program. Provides that a child may qualify for health care coverage, if the child is uninsured due to the loss of the parent's or legal guardian's health insurance; provided that the child's parent or legal guardian was employed by a Hawaii employer that was covered by and that, between February 29, 2008 and September 30, 2008, filed for bankruptcy and ceased doing business in Hawaii or ceased doing business in Hawaii. Act to be repealed on December 31, 2008 (sunset).
I SaveRx program (HB7 HD1 SD1, Relating to the I-SaveRX Prescription Drug Program, Act 59 (Veto Override))
Developed by the State of Illinois, the I-SaveRx program is already available and open to all Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, Missouri and Vermont residents. The I-SaveRx program offers a safe, simple and affordable way to purchase the medication refills at savings of up to 80%.
HB7 establishes provisions relating to a Hawaii I SaveRx prescription drug program. Provides increased access to safe prescription drugs at affordable prices. Requires the Governor to enter into a written agreement with the state of Illinois and any other state necessary to provide access for program participants, including Hawaii residents, to safe and affordable prescription drugs from Europe and Canada through the Illinois' I SaveRx prescription drug program no later than January 1, 2009.
Provides that the agreement to participate state that all Hawaii residents shall be provided program access to the I SaveRx program through the internet and a 24 hour toll free telephone number to be considered program participants.
Requires the pharmacy benefits manager to be responsible of the operations and administration of the internet website accessed via the I SaveRx site.
Requires the Governor to establish, operate and administer a separate internet website to provide Hawaii residents with information relating to the program.
Requires Hawaii to cooperate with participating states to ensure an adequate supply of prescription drugs from the program's participating pharmacies.
Requires Hawaii to be a member to the joint work group to ensure adequate input from Hawaii regarding the safe and effective administration of the program.
Requires Illinois to be the primary administrator of the pharmacy benefits management to a set of standards of practice adopted by participating states.
Requires the Department of Human Services to report to the Legislature. Act to be repealed on June 30, 2012 (sunset).
State Budget
The budget includes $5.7 million (to be leveraged by matching federal funds) to help hospitals cover the uninsured.
Senate paperless project
Paper reduction figures
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2007
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2008
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Difference
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January
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Print Shop
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435,949
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417,632
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Committee
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35,174
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3,887
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Senate Ofcs
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65,228
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104,701
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|
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Total
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536,351
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526,220
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10,131
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|
|
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|
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February
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|
|
|
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Print Shop
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3,784,765
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689,526
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|
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Committee
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174,132
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12,866
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|
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Senate Ofcs
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124,345
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219,511
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|
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Total
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4,083,242
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921,903
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3,161,339
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|
|
|
|
|
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March
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|
|
|
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Print Shop
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2,412,968
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807,762
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Committee
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122,426
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20,486
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|
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Senate Ofcs
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111,843
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299,608
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|
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Total
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2,647,237
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1,127,856
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1,519,381
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|
|
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|
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April
|
|
|
|
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Print Shop
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2,334,690
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740,610
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Committee
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59,252
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15,570
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Senate Ofcs
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137,684
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420,842
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Total
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2,531,626
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1,177,022
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1,354,604
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Total
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9,798,456
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3,753,001
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6,045,455
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In the Senate's December press release on the paperless launch, we indicated that we used 875 cases of paper in the 2007 session. Tia indicated that she only ordered 480 cases for this session. 46% reduction in paper.
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