THE SENATE

THE TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2005

COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

Senator Brian T. Taniguchi, Chair

Senator Shan S. Tsutsui, Vice Chair

NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING

 

DATE:

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

TIME:

9:30 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 211

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

 

SB 1380

SD1

(SSCR576)

RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS BILL OF RIGHTS.

Establishes the small business bill of rights. (SD1)

BED/CPH, WAM

SB 1697

SD1

(SSCR465)

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY TRAINING.

Appropriates funds to cover start-up costs for an integrated airlines training center in Hawaii. (SD1)

BED/TGO, WAM

SB 1734

SD1

(SSCR466)

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an income tax credit for taxpayers investing in the motor sports facility to be developed at Kalaeloa, parcel 9. (SD1)

BED/TGO, WAM

SB 751

SD1

(SSCR31)

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Updates state insurance laws to conform to federal law and national standards. (SD1)

CPH, WAM

SB 769

SD1

(SSCR543)

RELATING TO CABLE TELEVISION.

Allows DCCA to provide a rebate to cable television subscribers if the annual fee collected from subscribers exceeds the cable television regulatory program's administrative costs. Requires DCCA to study highest and best use of franchise fees. (SD1)

CPH/MAT, WAM

SB 801

SD1

(SSCR436)

RELATING TO LOW-INTEREST LOANS TO DISASTER VICTIMS.

Appropriates funds to the Kikala-Keokea housing revolving fund. Repeals the Kalapana disaster relief program. (SD1)

CPH, WAM

SB 959

SD1

(SSCR154)

RELATING TO CABLE TELEVISION.

Requires cable operator serving Maui county to pay access operating fees collected from subscribers to Maui community college, DOE, Maui County, and Maui's PEG access entity. (SD1)

CPH/IGA, WAM

SB 1132

SD1

(SSCR81)

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Recodifies condominium laws relating to creation, alteration, and termination; registration and administration; and protection of purchasers. Delays effective date of new condominium chapter to July 1, 2006. Appropriates funds for educational purposes. (SD1)

CPH, WAM

SB 1851

SD1

(SSCR209)

APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR HOMELESS AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECTS.

Appropriates funds for homeless and transitional housing projects on Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui, self-help projects in all counties, and state homeless shelter program. (SD1)

CPH, WAM

SB 1852

SD1

(SSCR440)

RELATING TO LOW INCOME HOUSING.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the repair, renovation, and construction of low-income housing. Requires the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii to repair all vacant low-income housing units by December 31, 2008. (SD1)

CPH, WAM

SB 874

(SSCR46)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to hire additional athletic health care trainers in public schools.

EDM, WAM

SB 1394

SD1

(SSCR268)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds for additional funds for schools that serve larger populations of military dependent students. Requires the University of Hawaii to establish a program to allow readmission to military members who have been deployed. (SD1)

EDM/HRE, WAM

SB 1483

(SSCR370)

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS FOR WAIMEA COUNTRY SCHOOL.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds for Waimea Country School to finance or refinance the planning, acquisition, construction, or improvement of its educational facilities.

EDM, WAM

SB 1635

SD1

(SSCR287)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Increases the amount of money deposited into the state educational facilities improvement special fund.

EDM, WAM

SB 1637

(SSCR48)

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to hire an additional 163.5 FTE secondary school positions.

EDM, WAM

SB 1650

SD1

(SSCR223)

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

Provides for reimbursement for travel expenses to National Guard members reporting for drill or exercises. Makes an appropriation for reimbursements. (SD1)

EDM, WAM

SB 1817

SD1

(SSCR289)

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Authorizes the DOE to conduct criminal history record checks of providers, subcontractor, and institute of higher education trainees who work or train in close proximity to public school students. (SD1)

EDM, WAM

SB 788

(SSCR168)

RELATING TO THE VOLUNTARY RESPONSE PROGRAM.

Clarifies certain provisions and exemptions to strengthen the program.

EIA, WAM

SB 1262

SD1

(SSCR87)

RELATING TO THE WAIANAE COAST.

Appropriates funds to conduct a baseline study of environmental impacts for the Waianae coast. (SD1)

EIA, WAM

SB 789

(SSCR330)

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES.

Provides the DHS with emergency funds to reimburse DOH developmental disabilities or mental retardation medicaid waiver providers for FY 2004-2005 claims.

HTH/HMS, WAM

SB 1094

(SSCR140)

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE HANA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

Appropriates funds for the Hana Community Health Center.

HTH, WAM

SB 1278

SD1

(SSCR324)

RELATING TO QUALIFIED IMPROVEMENT TAX CREDIT.

Provides a tax credit for improvements made to federally qualified health centers. (SD1)

HTH, WAM

SB 1420

SD1

(SSCR607)

RELATING TO PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION.

Prohibits DHS from restricting payment for or a recipient's access to psychotropic medication, requires DHS to establish presumptive eligibility for psychotropic medication coverage until a decision is made, and exempts licensed providers from preauthorization for prescription psychotropic medication. (SD1)

HTH/HMS, WAM

SB 1687

(SSCR278)

RELATING TO EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS.

Creates an exemption from the general excise tax for a management company that contracts to provide managerial and operational services to related companies that engage in the provision of medical services in order to facilitate the creation of an employee stock ownership plan.

HTH, WAM

SB 116

SD1

(SSCR422)

RELATING TO NURSES.

Establishes a nursing scholars program to attract nurses with a bachelor's degree in nursing into a master's or doctoral program to prepare them for academic careers. (SD1)

HRE/HTH, WAM

SB 898

(SSCR493)

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Makes permanent Act 321, Session Laws of Hawaii 1986 Regular Session, relating to UH financial administration.

HRE, WAM

SB 475

SD1

(SSCR148)

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

Increases standard of need from the 1993 federal poverty level to an annually updated poverty level for the current year. Includes the general assistance (GA) and aged, blind, and disabled programs for the calculation. Removes limitation on making GA payments only from total appropriations made for GA. (SD1)

HMS, WAM

SB 470

SD1

(SSCR606)

RELATING TO THE COLLECTION OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID FOR THE DNA REGISTRY.

Expands scope of DNA registration law to mandate the collection of DNA samples from all convicted felons; allows DNA samples to be collected by buccal swabs; establishes post conviction relief DNA testing provisions. (SD1)

JHW, WAM

SB 613

SD1

(SSCR127)

RELATING TO INTERMEDIATE SANCTIONS.

Appropriates funds to members of the interagency council on intermediate sanctions to carry out its 5-year strategic plan to reduce adult offender recidivism and to institutionalize enhancements to Hawaii's criminal justice system. (SD1)

JHW, WAM

SB 617

SD1

(SSCR170)

RELATING TO COURT INTERPRETER SERVICES.

Creates the court interpreting services revolving fund and exempts the fund from central service expenses and departmental administrative expenses. (SD1)

JHW, WAM

SB 696

(SSCR133)

RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION.

Adds definitions for "criminal history record check" and "criminal history record name inquiry." Updates the fee schedule for criminal history record check services to include criminal history record checks done via the Internet. Extends the fee exemption to include nonprofit charitable organizations' adult volunteers having direct contact with the elderly and disabled.

JHW, WAM

SB 979

SD1

(SSCR135)

RELATING TO COURT INTERPRETERS.

Requires the judiciary to certify court interpreters and to appoint and use certified court interpreters in legal proceedings. (SD1)

JHW, WAM

SB 1689

SD1

(SSCR507)

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN SPENDING.

Establishes a comprehensive public funding program for state legislative candidates and candidates for governor and lieutenant governor who agree to abide by campaign contribution and expenditure limits and meet other criteria. (SD1)

JHW, WAM

SB 55

SD1

(SSCR480)

RELATING TO MEAL BREAKS.

Requires the provision of rest or meal break periods of at least thirty consecutive minutes for employees who work five or more continuous hours, unless they elect not to take a break and unless a collective bargaining agreement provides an express provision for meal breaks. Excludes an employer who is the operator of a continuously operating facility regulated by an environmental permit. (SD1)

LBR, WAM

SB 61

(SSCR383)

RELATING TO WAGES.

Authorizes an employer to furnish to an employee an electronic record of an employee's total gross and net compensation, deductions, date of payment, and pay period covered, in lieu of a printed, typewritten, or handwritten record, upon receipt of written authorization from the employee.

LBR, WAM

SB 294

SD2

(SSCR525)

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Increases the minimum wage amount to $7.00 beginning July 1, 2005, and provides for an annual automatic increase thereafter. Provides temporary tax relief to employers by lowering the maximum taxable wage base for calendar years 2005 through 2007. (SD2)

LBR, WAM

SB 741

(SSCR400)

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Allows the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System to include the post retirement allowance as an actuarial assumption in determining the actuarial equivalency of benefit optioins to the maximum allowance.

LBR, WAM

SB 817

SD1

(SSCR489)

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Improves the administration of unemployment taxes and eliminates the practice of "dumping" whereby some employers and financial advisors use acquisitions or restructuring schemes, including shifting of workforce and payroll, to pay lower state unemployment taxes. (SD1)

LBR, WAM

SB 1192

SD1

(SSCR389)

RELATING TO EXEMPT EMPLOYEES.

Limits the number of exempt positions. Requires DHRD to report annually to the legislature the number and percentage of civil service and exempt employees employed by the State. (SD1)

LBR, WAM

SB 575

(SSCR79)

RELATING TO THE KING KAMEHAMEHA CELEBRATION COMMISSION FUND.

Creates a King Kamehameha commission trust fund administered by the Hawaii Community Foundation and King Kamehameha commissioners to fund the King Kamehameha parade and festivities.

MAT/TSM, WAM

SB 1698

SD1

(SSCR235)

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY GROWTH.

Establishes a tax credit for taxpayers that contribute in-kind services to establish or maintain technology laboratories in public schools. Appropriates funds for Project EAST expansion and for the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii to coordinate marketing, with emphasis on representing Hawaii's technology companies and opportunities on the mainland. (SD1)

MAT/BED, WAM

SB 1699

(SSCR366)

RELATING TO CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

Increases the Hawaii state foundation on culture and the arts' general fund appropriation to demonstrate strong legislative support for the importance of culture and the arts in Hawaii.

MAT, WAM

SB 1729

SD1

(SSCR459)

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Redistributes the transient accommodations tax to facilitate the Hawaii tourism authority with existing and expanded programs. Clarifies the administrative authority of the Hawaii tourism authority. (SD1)

TSM, WAM

SB 1863

SD1

(SSCR216)

RELATING TO TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

Requires the department of taxation to review the forms and process relating to collecting the TAT from vacation rentals and bed and breakfast establishments and requires the department to report the TAT revenues received from these types of establishments. (SD1)

TSM, WAM

SB 1732

(SSCR77)

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A LOCAL FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM FOR LAKE WILSON.

Appropriates funds for local flood warning system for Lake Wilson; requires matching federal funds.

TGO, WAM

SB 1268

SD1

(SSCR344)

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes the agribusiness development corporation to issue revenue bonds to obtain agricultural land in Waialua from the Galbraith Estate. Enables the agribusiness development corporation to contract with banks to provide lease management services. (SD1)

WLA, WAM

SB 1474

SD1

(SSCR572)

RELATING TO THE MAUNA KEA SCIENCE RESERVE AUTHORITY.

Directs the auditor to conduct studies: (1) evaluating whether the existing approval and decision-making procedures for the Mauna Kea science reserve adequately address the concerns of the public; and (2) to determine the feasibility and necessity of the creation of a Mauna Kea science reserve authority. (SD1)

WLA/HRE, WAM

SB 1879

SD1

(SSCR348)

RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Establishes that agricultural businesses shall remain eligible for tax incentives in the event of force majeure. Allows agricultural businesses to meet annual gross revenue requirements if the businesses are unable to meet annual full-time employee requirements. Clarifies the definition of "full-time" employees. Specifies that tax credits taken in the EZ program cannot be duplicated in other tax incentive programs. (SD1)

WLA, WAM

SB 1883

SD1

(SSCR350)

RELATING TO MILOLI'I FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AREA.

Designates the Miloli'i fisheries management area in South Kona as a community-based subsistence fishing area to preserve and maintain its legacy as a traditional Hawaiian fishing village. (SD1)

WLA, WAM

SB 919

SD1

(SSCR337)

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Increases the conveyance tax and the amount of revenues paid into the general fund, rental housing trust fund, and the natural area reserve fund. Also provides a stable funding mechanism for the natural area reserves system. (SD1)

WLA, WAM

SB 1897

SD1

(SSCR331)

RELATING TO LAND CONSERVATION.

Requires 25% of real estate conveyance tax collected be deposited into the land conservation fund. Allows grants to state agencies, counties, and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire interest in lands having a value as a resource to the State. (SD1)

WLA, WAM

     

ONLY WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED,

NO ORAL TESTIMONY WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Persons wishing to submit written comments should submit 35 copies of their comments to the committee clerk, Room 210, State Capitol during regular business hours, or outside the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Office, Room 015, State Capitol for all other times, 24 hours prior to the hearing. Comments may also be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands), at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. When faxing, please indicate that the comments are to be submitted for this particular decision making and the required number of copies needed for submittal.

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., sign language interpreter, wheelchair accessibility, or parking designated for the disabled) please contact the committee clerk 24 hours prior to the hearing so arrangements can be made.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6800.

 

 

________________________________________

Senator Brian T. Taniguchi

Chair