OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

TWENTY-SECOND STATE LEGISLATURE

 

COMMITTEE REFERRALS

 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

NO. 1

2nd LEGISLATIVE DAY-JANUARY 22, 2004

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Committee Abbreviations:

 

AGR -  Agriculture

HSH -  Human Services and Housing

CPC -   Consumer Protection and Commerce

INT -   International Affairs

EDB -  Economic Development and

JUD -  Judiciary

            Business Concerns

LAB -  Labor and Public Employment

EDN -  Education

LMG - Legislative Management

EEP -   Energy and Environmental Protection

PSM -  Public Safety and Military Affairs

FIN -    Finance

TAC -  Tourism and Culture

HED -  Higher Education

TRN -  Transportation

HLT -  Health

WLH - Water, Land Use & Hawaiian Affairs

 

________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

HOUSE BILLS

 

 

 

Committee

H.B. NO.

 

REFERRAL

 

 

 

 

1692

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Provides for the organization of renewable energy cooperative corporations to generate, transmit, and sell electricity.  Authorizes issuance of revenue bonds to finance costs related to constructing, upgrading, and acquiring transmission facilities.  Exempts cooperatives from PUC oversight.

 

EEP, CPC, FIN

1693

RELATING TO AIR POLLUTION CONTROL.

Requires the DOH to enforce its administrative rules relating to new source reviews as they existed on 12/30/02.  Prohibits the adoption of rules that are not as stringent or more stringent than the rules that existed on 12/30/02.  Applies retroactively to 12/30/02.

 

EEP, JUD

1694

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT LAW.

Requires an environmental assessment for any actions that propose any county general plan amendment or state land use commission petition to reclassify any lands which may impact any military installation.

 

PSM, WLH/EEP, JUD

1695

RELATING TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Establishing military installations in the State of Hawaii as an area of critical state concern.

 

PSM, WLH, FIN

1696

RELATING TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Requires counties to give notice to military installation authorities of any proposed zoning change applications of lands within 3,000 feet of a military installation, and requires consideration of potential impacts the zoning change could have on the military installation.

 

PSM, WLH, JUD

1697

RELATING TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Requires notice to be given to military installation authorities of any proposed petition for district boundary amendment involving lands within 2 miles of a military installation, and requires consideration of potential impacts the district boundary amendments could have on the military installation.

 

PSM, WLH, JUD, FIN

1698

RELATING TO THE USE OF SAFETY HELMETS BY MINORS.

Mandates safety helmet use for motorcycle, motor scooter, and moped operators and bicycle riders under the age of 18 years.

 

TRN, JUD

1699

RELATING TO SAFETY HELMETS.

Mandates the use of safety helmets by motorcycle operators, moped operators, and bicycle riders.

 

TRN, JUD

1700

RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Repeals restriction restricting disposition when lack of access is sole reason.

 

WLH, JUD

1701

RELATING TO SHORELINE SETBACKS.

Extends the validity of a shoreline determination to 36 months.

 

WLH, JUD

1702

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a tax incentive for businesses to provide language training to workers with limited English proficiency.

 

LAB, FIN

1703

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.

Establishes the office of federal procurement and contracting within the department of business, economic development, and tourism.

 

EDB/LAB, JUD, FIN

1704

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Makes the front motor vehicle license plate optional.

 

TRN, JUD, FIN

1705

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Requires seizure of certificate of registration and impoundment of motor vehicle when citation is issued for uninsured motor vehicle; clarifies that proof of motor vehicle insurance is necessary for renewal of registration; makes appropriations to the counties.

 

TRN, JUD/CPC, FIN

1706

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Allows the University of Hawaii to implement an optional retirement system in lieu of the State Employees' Retirement System and fixes the State's contribution at six percent.  Clarifies that part-time or temporary employees are not eligible for the optional retirement system.

 

HED, LAB, FIN

1707

RELATING TO THE HAWAII MEDICAL EDUCATION SPECIAL FUND.

Places the Hawaii Medical Education Special Fund under the control of UH administration.

 

HLT, HED, FIN

1708

RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR NURSING.

Places the Center for Nursing Special Fund under the control of UH administration.

 

HED, FIN

1709

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Appropriates matching funds to the University of Hawaii for the National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research grant application.

 

HED, FIN

1710

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes a student scholarship and support special fund within the University of Hawaii to administer financial assistance and obtain additional tuition and scholarship support and matching moneys from federal and private sources.

 

HED, FIN

1711

RELATING TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

Short form bill.

 

TAC

1712

RELATING TO WITHHOLDING TAX.

Provides a blank percentage for the maximum percentage allowed by law for withholding income taxes.

 

FIN

1713

RELATING TO KAHULUI HARBOR.

Prohibits the use of nets to fish in Kahului harbor.

 

TRN, WLH, JUD

1714

RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Allows deductions for health care costs (which includes long-term care insurance premium costs) for amounts in excess of 0.5% (rather than 7.5%) of adjusted gross income.

 

HLT/HSH, FIN

1715

RELATING TO LAND USE COMMISSION.

Limits land use commission jurisdiction over district boundary amendments to those involving land areas greater than 50 acres except in the conservation district.  Gives counties sole authority over district boundary amendments involving land areas less than 50 acres, except in conservation districts.

 

WLH, JUD

1716

RELATING TO LONG-TERM INSURANCE TAX CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESS.

Grants tax credit to small businesses at the lesser of 50% of premiums or $500 per employee for purchase of long-term care insurance for its employees.  Defines small business as businesses employing less than 100 full-time or part-time workers.

 

HLT/HSH, EDB, FIN

1717

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE.

Requires naturopathy to be included among the personal injury protection benefits provided in a motor vehicle insurance policy.

 

CPC, FIN

1718

RELATING TO TOLL ROADS.

Authorizes director of transportation to impose toll charges on existing highways or construct new toll roads.  Provides for agreement with private entities to construct, operate, and maintain toll roads.  Requires prior feasibility study.

 

TRN, FIN

1719

RELATING TO BOAT HARBORS.

Transfers the recreational boat harbors of Lahaina and Kona from the department of land and natural resources to the department of transportation.

 

WLH, TRN/LAB, FIN

1720

RELATING TO PILOTAGE.

Establishes general provisions for piloting regulations, including the reinstitution of a board of pilot commissioners, transfer of jurisdiction to the department of transportation, and the transfer of authority of the director to the board.

 

TRN, CPC, FIN

1721

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE AIRPORT AUTHORITY.

Creates the Hawaii state airport authority, effective 7/1/2005, with jurisdiction over all airports owned or controlled by the State.  Creates temporary airport authority task force within the governor's office to draft legislation to implement the Hawaii airport authority. 

 

TRN, FIN

1722

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects for the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii.

 

HED, FIN

1723

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funding to the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii for various programs.

 

HED, FIN

1724

RELATING TO CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY.

Requires children four years old but less than eight years of age who are motor vehicle passengers to be properly secured in an appropriate booster seat, unless the child weights more than eight pounds or is more than four feet nine inches in height.

 

TRN, JUD

1725

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Adds additional penalties for excessive speeding including increased fines, mandatory prison sentences, vehicle confiscation, and forfeiture of drivers license.

 

TRN, JUD

1726

RELATING TO VEHICLE TAXES.

Authorizes the counties to impose a county vehicle ad valorem tax.  Provides for one-third of the revenues to be distributed to the county that collected the tax, one-third to the state highway fund, and the remainder to the state general fund.

 

TRN, FIN

1727

RELATING TO INSURANCE FRAUD.

Amends the insurance investigations and examinations law to provide immunity from civil liability for persons who provide information to prevent, investigate, or prosecute insurance fraud, except if acting with malice or committing perjury.

 

CPC/JUD

1728

RELATING TO PENSION AND RETIREMENT SYSTEMS.

Allows the Legislature to hire retirees, without bifurcating their employment.

 

LMG, LAB, FIN

1729

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY REGIMES.

Amends provisions of the condominium law establishing procedures for the alteration or change in use of common elements, by referencing the exemption from those procedures in section 514A-13.4, HRS, for installation of telecommunications equipment.

 

CPC

1730

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Allows the insurance commissioner to impose license sanctions on producers who, when participating in mortgage transactions, fail to comply with mortgage broker and solicitor act or conduct prohibitions or written agreement requirements.

 

CPC

1731

RELATING TO PHYSICIAN LICENSURE.

Allows individuals receiving their medical training through accredited bodies in Canada to qualify for licensure in the State of Hawaii.

 

HLT, CPC

1732

RELATING TO TAXES.

Provides a tax credit for companies that implement employee assistance programs.

 

EDB, FIN

1733

RELATING TO TAXES.

Adds a new income tax credit for taxpayers with employee worksite wellness programs.

 

EDB, FIN

1734

RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS TAX CREDITS.

Allows for small businesses to receive tax credits for expenses related to providing family health care coverage to their employees.

 

EDB, HLT, FIN

1735

RELATING TO ASSIGNED CLAIMS.

Amends the assigned claims law to limit the program to individuals injured by uninsured drivers and who have no other means of recovery, and prevent those with insurance coverage but who have failed to purchase uninsured motorist coverage, from receiving free uninsured motorist coverage through the program.

 

CPC

1736

RELATING TO GIFT CERTIFICATES.

Prohibits gift certificate issuers from charging service fees, including but not limited to dormancy fees.

 

CPC

1737

RELATING TO MORTGAGE BROKERS AND SOLICITORS.

Includes employees and exclusive agents within the exemption from regulation under the mortgage broker and solicitor law provided for banks, insurance companies, and other similar organizations; defines "exclusive agents" as licensed insurance producers who represent a single banking subsidiary of an insurance company.

 

CPC

1738

RELATING TO LICENSING OF ADJUSTERS AND BILL REVIEWERS.

Allows the insurance commissioner to impose license sanctions on adjusters who in mortgage transactions fail to comply with mortgage broker and solicitor act or conduct prohibitions or written agreement requirements.

 

CPC

1739

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Establishes an open source software pilot project within the department of education to establish a policy on the purchase and use of open source software applications within the department; appropriates $50,000.

 

EDN, FIN

1740

RELATING TO THE NATIONAL GUARD.

Prohibits, effective 7/1/04, a person from being deemed eligible to serve, continuing to serve, or being appointed to serve as adjutant general or deputy adjutant general unless the person has had at least 5 years of service as an active commissioned officer in the Hawaii national guard, whether army, or air, or both.

 

PSM/LAB, JUD

1741

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Makes the department of education a political subdivision headed by the board of education and gives the board the authority to enact an education excise tax.

 

EDN, JUD, FIN

1742

PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO MAKE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION HEADED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND GIVE THE BOARD THE AUTHORITY TO TAX.

Proposes amendments to the state constitution to make the department of education a political subdivision headed by the board of education.  Gives the board the authority to enact an education excise tax.

 

EDN, JUD, FIN

1744

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a statute of limitations for the collection of income taxes.

 

JUD, FIN

1745

RELATING TO A CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH PROGRAM.

Establishes the construction research program within the University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Engineering.  Appropriates funds to be used for the center's programs and functions.

 

HED, FIN

1746

RELATING TO FIXED RAIL TRANSIT.

Appropriates $300,000 to UH to (1) conduct review of studies on fixed rail transit; (2) serve as information clearinghouse for transit technologies; (3) examine administrative structures to plan, develop, finance, and operate public transit in Hawaii.  Report by 12/20/2004 plus proposed legislation for 2005 session.

 

TRN, HED, FIN

1747

RELATING TO UNIVERSITY PROJECTS AND PURPOSES.

Grants the UH Board of Regents increased flexibility to construct and maintain UH projects and other university purposes.

 

HED, FIN

1748

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY.

Directs the attorney general and the department of land and natural resources to commence a special proceeding pursuant to section 101-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the acquisition by the State of certain lands in Haiku, Oahu, Hawaii.

 

WLH, FIN

1749

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES.

Permitting an eligible customer-generator of an electric utility to produce electrical energy by ocean energy and permitting an increase in the amount of energy an eligible customer-generator may generate.

 

EEP, CPC, FIN

1750

RELATING TO LICENSING.

Mandates the liquor commission to follow the same procedures as for the granting of a new license when a licensee applies for an increase in the area of the licensed premises where the increase is equal to or greater than ____ per cent of the current area licensed for.

 

JUD, FIN

1751

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Gives supreme court one year and intermediate appellate court six months after it takes civil cases under consideration to dispose of the cases.

 

JUD, FIN

1752

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FIFTIETH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects for the benefit of the 50th representative district.

 

FIN

1753

RELATING TO SECURED TRANSACTIONS.

Provides that all financing statements, including fixture filings, are to be filed in the bureau of conveyances, except for fixture filings that are part of a mortgage, which will be recorded in the applicable recording office for the mortgage.

 

CPC, FIN

1754

RELATING TO IMPACT FEES.

Authorizes the counties to assess impact fees and transfers revenues to a new state special fund to help pay for state highway improvements that serve new or more intensive development.

 

WLH/TRN, JUD, FIN

1755

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS.

Enables a retired public employee who is a member of the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and who has a spouse that is not a retired public employee to enroll in health benefits plans as singles.

 

LAB, FIN

1756

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST HIGH TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES.

Authorizes the high technology development corporation to issue special purpose revenue bonds on behalf of Electricore, Inc., to produce unmanned vehicle and aerial systems and related technologies.

 

EDB, FIN

1757

RELATING TO COUNTY LAND USE PLANNING.

Requires any chapter 201G housing project to conform to the general plan of the county in which the project is to be situated.  Allows the legislative body of the county 75 days to approve or disapprove of a chapter 201G project.  Allows counties to reclassify land areas of 50 acres or less, except conservation land.

 

WLH/HSH, FIN

1758

RELATING TO HOUSING PROJECTS.

Requires any chapter 201G housing project to conform to the general plan of the county in which the project is situated.  Allows the legislative body of the county 75 days to approve or disapprove of a chapter 201G project.

 

WLH/HSH, FIN

1759

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE.

Authorizes workers' compensation insurers to place surcharges on the costs of their policies under specified circumstances.

 

LAB, CPC, FIN

1760

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE.

Provides for the automatic repeal of administrative rules effective 180 days after the repeal of the related statute or ordinance.

 

JUD

1761

RELATING TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

Amends Regulatory Licensing Reform Act policies regarding regulation of professions and vocations to prohibit or require termination of regulations that are unnecessary or redundant of existing protections.  Requires DCCA to sunset a board or commission in the absence of an act expressly prohibiting the sunset and upon any finding by the Legislative Auditor that the board or commission is redundant or unnecessary.

 

CPC, FIN

1762

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Allows insurance rate reductions to take effect when filed, subject to the subsequent approval of the Insurance Commissioner.

 

LAB, CPC, FIN

1763

RELATING TO ECOTOURISM.

Allows "wilderness lodges" based on the principles of ecotourism to be constructed on agricultural lands.

 

TAC, FIN

1764

RELATING TO ECOTOURISM.

Allows "wilderness lodges" based on the principles of ecotourism to be constructed on agricultural lands.

 

WLH/EEP, AGR, TAC

1765

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND AGENCIES.

Provides for the expiration of the term of a member of a government board, commission, or any agency who failed to attend two consecutive meetings where the board was not able to constitute quorum because of the absence of the member.

 

JUD

1766

RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

Requires persons applying for unemployment insurance benefits to undergo drug testing.

 

LAB, JUD, FIN

1767

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR DRUG TREATMENT, COUNSELING, AND INTERVENTION SERVICES AT RADFORD HIGH SCHOOL.

Appropriates funding for substance abuse treatment, counseling, and intervention services at Radford high school.

 

HLT, EDN, FIN