Legislative Members

30th Legislature, 2019
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The Legislature has adjourned sine die.

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House District 9
Hawaii State Capitol
Room 405
phone: 808-586-6210
fax: 808-586-6211
repwoodson@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Member of the following committees:

Lower & Higher Education

Housing

Transportation

9 - Kahului, Puunene, Old Sand Hills, Maui Lani

2020 Summer Update Newsletter
2020 Legislative Update
2019 Summer Update Newsletter
2019 Session Newsletter
2018 January Newsletter
2017 Newsletter
2016 May Community Update
2016 Mid Session Newsletter
2015 Summer Update
End of Session Newsletter
2014 Start of Session
2013 Session Highlights

Measures Introduced

	Title
HB33 HD1	RELATING TO MAGNET SCHOOLS.
HB155	RELATING TO AIR QUALITY.
HB242	RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR AN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL IN THE NINTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.
HB243 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION FUNDING.
HB244 HD1	RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.
HB245 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB246 HD2	RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HB247 HD1	RELATING TO SCHOOLS.
HB248 HD1	RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.
HB249 HD1	RELATING TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
HB251 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB277	RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB278	RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB279	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB280	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB281	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB310	RELATING TO ON-SITE EARLY CHILDHOOD FACILITIES.
HB312 HD1 SD2	RELATING TO CREATIVE MEDIA.
HB315	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CHILD CARE SITE DIRECTOR POSITION.
HB317	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB324 HD1	RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
HB325 HD1	RELATING TO DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED.
HB326 HD1	RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES.
HB377 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
HB378 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO FILIPINO VETERANS BURIAL ASSISTANCE.
HB406 HD2	RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
HB408	RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.
HB409	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB410	RELATING TO RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME.
HB411 HD2	RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
HB412 HD1	RELATING TO THE SALARY OF THE STATE LIBRARIAN.
HB413 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION INNOVATION GRANTS.
HB414 HD1	RELATING TO PROCUREMENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
HB415 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TUITION AND FEES SPECIAL FUND.
HB421 HD2	RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.
HB435	RELATING TO INSURANCE.
HB447	RELATING TO AQUATIC RESOURCES.
HB454 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE.
HB455 HD1	RELATING TO THE KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION.
HB466 HD1 SD1	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER.
HB467 HD1 SD2	RELATING TO THE KUPUNA CAREGIVERS PROGRAM.
HB469 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.
HB470	RELATING TO RETIREMENT SAVINGS.
HB472	RELATING TO ACTIVE AGING.
HB473	RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
HB474	RELATING TO HEALTH.
HB541	PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 12 AND 13, OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTIES TO ISSUE TAX INCREMENT BONDS AND TO EXCLUDE TAX INCREMENT BONDS FROM DETERMINATIONS OF THE FUNDED DEBT OF THE COUNTIES.
HB542	RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT BONDS.
HB544	RELATING TO LIABILITY.
HB545	RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
HB549 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
HB550 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
HB562 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION WASTE.
HB564	RELATING TO THE STATE SHRIMP.
HB565 HD1	RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF COASTAL HAZARDS.
HB599	RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.
HB603	RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.
HB604	RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
HB721 HD1	RELATING TO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII DEVELOPMENTS.
HB722 HD1	RELATING TO PALLIATIVE CARE.
HB726 HD1	RELATING TO A TEACHER TAX CREDIT.
HB734	RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
HB737	RELATING TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.
HB835	RELATING TO VEHICLES.
HB853	RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
HB887 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.
HB889 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
HB891 HD1	RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB892	RELATING TO CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
HB917 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL LANDS.
HB918 HD1	RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL LANDS.
HB919 HD1	RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
HB920	RELATING TO SCHOOL BASED HEALTH SERVICES.
HB921 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB922	RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON EARLY LEARNING.
HB923	RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON EARLY LEARNING.
HB924	RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HB925	RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HB926	RELATING TO STATE LIBRARIES.
HB1063	RELATING TO CIVIC EDUCATION.
HB1071	RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.
HB1085 HD1	RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM.
HB1106	RELATING TO CONSERVATION DISTRICT PERMITS.
HB1130	RELATING TO UNCLAIMED PROPERTY.
HB1141	RELATING TO HOUSING.
HB1142 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO THE HOUSING LOAN AND MORTGAGE PROGRAM.
HB1154 HD1	RELATING TO THE OWNER-BUILDER EXEMPTION.
HB1155	RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
HB1156 HD1	RELATING TO BROADBAND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE.
HB1158	RELATING TO COUNTY SIDEWALKS.
HB1164 HD1	RELATING TO DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
HB1166 HD1	RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.
HB1193 SD1	RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB1209 HD2	RELATING TO HOUSING.
HB1231 HD1	RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
HB1274 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB1275 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB1277 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM.
HB1346 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
HB1347 HD1	RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HB1348	RELATING TO TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS.
HB1379	RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.
HB1380 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
HB1381 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO LOBBYISTS.
HB1382 HD2	RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.
HB1444	RELATING TO HEALTH.
HB1447 HD1	RELATING TO PALLIATIVE CARE.
HB1448 HD1	RELATING TO HEALTH.
HB1451 HD3	RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
HB1452 HD1	RELATING TO CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES.
HB1454	RELATING TO AN EARNED INCOME DISREGARD PROGRAM.
HB1456	RELATING TO THE MAUI FOOD INNOVATION CENTER.
HB1457 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
HB1465 HD2	RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HB1466	RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
HB1485 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.
HB1521 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BUDGET.
HB1522 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BUDGET.
HB1523 HD1 SD2	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BUDGET.
HB1524 HD1 SD2	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BUDGET.
HB1525 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM BUDGET.
HB1526 HD1 SD2	RELATING TO THE STATE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS BUDGET.
HB1527 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON EARLY LEARNING BUDGET.
HB1529 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO STUDENT JOURNALISTS.
HB1545	RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.
HB1566 HD1	RELATING TO PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
HB1578	RELATING TO SEA LEVEL RISE.
HB1583 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO ELECTRIC GRID RESILIENCY.
HB1644 HD1	RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.
HB1651 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS.
HB1693	RELATING TO VEHICLES.
HB1695 HD1	RELATING TO STANDARDIZED TESTING.
HB1816 HD1	RELATING TO HOUSING.
HB1817 HD2	RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
HB1844 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING.
HB1848 HD1	RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
HB1849 HD1	RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
HB1852	RELATING TO ENERGY FINANCING FOR STATE AGENCIES.
HB1858	RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.
HB1859 HD1	RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
HB1860 HD2	RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.
HB1861 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO COFFEE BERRY BORER.
HB1864 HD2	RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
HB1865 HD1	RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIA.
HB1866 HD1	RELATING TO THE HEALTHY AGING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
HB1867 HD1	RELATING TO THE KUPUNA CAREGIVERS PROGRAM.
HB1868 HD1	RELATING TO JURY DUTY.
HB1869	RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.
HB1870 HD1	RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE.
HB1871 HD1	RELATING TO LONG TERM CARE.
HB1872 HD1	MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE OFFICE OF THE LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.
HB1873	RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
HB1874 HD1	RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES AGAINST SENIORS.
HB1880 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO THE KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION.
HB1907 HD2	RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.
HB1915 HD2	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB1921 HD1	RELATING TO HUNTING.
HB1922 HD1	RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.
HB1923 HD1	RELATING TO MEASUREMENT STANDARDS.
HB1924 HD1	RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.
HB1926	RELATING TO STATE FORMS.
HB1927	RELATING TO EMOLUMENTS.
HB1928 HD1 SD2	RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.
HB1929 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HB1930 HD1	RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB1931	RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB1932	RELATING TO HOUSING.
HB1933 HD1	RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.
HB1934 HD1	RELATING TO CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY JOBS.
HB1955 HD2	RELATING TO ELECTRIC FOOT SCOOTERS.
HB1957 HD2	RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.
HB1958 HD1	RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB1974 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB1976	RELATING TO LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS.
HB1977 HD2	RELATING TO PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE.
HB1978 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS.
HB1994 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
HB1996 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB1997	RELATING TO HOLIDAYS.
HB2004 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINTS.
HB2005	RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.
HB2014	RELATING TO HOUSING.
HB2083	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2084	RELATING TO LEARNING CENTERS.
HB2085	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2086	RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB2087	RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.
HB2088 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2089	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
HB2090 HD2	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
HB2091 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS.
HB2092 HD1	RELATING TO SCHOOLS.
HB2093 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION DATA.
HB2094 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.
HB2095	RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NINTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.
HB2138 HD1	RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.
HB2139 HD1	RELATING TO HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
HB2149 HD1	RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL SPORTS.
HB2150 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2152 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
HB2183 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO THE HOUSING LOAN AND MORTGAGE PROGRAM.
HB2186 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES.
HB2225	RELATING TO CHILDREN.
HB2249 HD2	RELATING TO MEDICAID BENEFITS.
HB2254 HD1	RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
HB2255 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM.
HB2256 HD2	RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
HB2257 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO THE CONFERENCE CENTER REVOLVING FUND.
HB2258 HD2	RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
HB2411 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE.
HB2412 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO TRAUMA-INFORMED EDUCATION.
HB2426 HD1	RELATING TO ATHLETICS.
HB2430 HD2	RELATING TO FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.
HB2456 HD1	RELATING TO ELECTRONIC SMOKING PRODUCTS.
HB2457 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO THE YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC.
HB2466 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO CAPITAL DISTRICT BUILDINGS.
HB2468	RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.
HB2475 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO CARGO CARRIERS.
HB2492 HD2	RELATING TO HYDROFLUOROCARBONS.
HB2493	RELATING TO CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION.
HB2508 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2509 HD1	RELATING TO SCHOOLS.
HB2510 HD1	RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
HB2511 HD1	RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HB2512 HD1	RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
HB2522 HD1	RELATING TO HEALTH.
HB2524	RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
HB2525 HD2	RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.
HB2527 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.
HB2530 HD1	RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
HB2541 HD1	RELATING TO HELPING WORKING FAMILIES.
HB2542	RELATING TO LAND DEVELOPMENT.
HB2543 HD1 SD2	RELATING TO ACCESS TO LEARNING.
HB2544	RELATING TO A SCHOOL FACILITIES AGENCY.
HB2554	RELATING TO TEACHER EDUCATION.
HB2555 HD1	RELATING TO THE NA WAI EHA WATERSHED.
HB2556 HD1	RELATING TO VEHICLES.
HB2557	RELATING TO COUNTIES.
HB2566 HD1	RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.
HB2568 HD1	RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
HB2573 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING.
HB2590 HD2 SD2	RELATING TO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.
HB2603 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2623	RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS.
HB2625	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2694 HD1	MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION.
HB2695 HD1	RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
HB2696	RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION.
HB2697 HD1	RELATING TO EDUCATION.
HB2698 HD1	RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION WASTE.
HB2699 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
HB2706 HD1	RELATING TO THE DONATION OF FOOD.
HB2707 HD2	RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.
HB2709 HD2 SD1	RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PROBATE CODE.
HB2710	RELATING TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
HB2713 HD1	RELATING TO HEALTH.
HB2715 HD1	RELATING TO RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY GRANTS.
HB2716 HD1	RELATING TO TAXATION.
HB2718 HD1 SD1	RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.
HB2719	RELATING TO GREEN FEES.
HB2720 HD1	RELATING TO GENDER EQUITY.
HB2722 HD1	RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
HB2740 HD2	RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HB2751 HD1	RELATING TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
HB2752 HD1	RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
HB2753 HD1	RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
HCR34	REQUESTING THAT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL INCLUDE HAWAIIAN AIRLINES IN THE NEWSPAPER'S FUTURE RANKINGS OF THE BEST AND WORST AIRLINES IN THE UNITED STATES.
HCR44	CONVENING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASK FORCE TO DETERMINE COHERENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE TIMELY ADMISSION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL AS NON-FORENSIC PATIENTS.
HCR45	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE REIMPLEMENTATION OF ADULT DENTAL BENEFITS FOR HAWAII RESIDENTS WHO ARE MEDICAID ENROLLEES.
HCR47 HD1	REQUESTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT, PARTICULARLY THE EFFECTS ON MINORITY GROUPS.
HCR51	URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE TRAINING, COURSES, AND CURRICULUM RELATED TO THE MECHANICS, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, HYDROGEN VEHICLES, AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES IN ITS SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
HCR62	DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND REQUESTING IMMEDIATE AND ACCELERATED ACTION TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING TO 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS.
HCR81	URGING ALL COMMERCIAL AIRLINES OPERATING IN HAWAII TO THOROUGHLY CLEAN AND DISINFECT THEIR AIRCRAFT BETWEEN FLIGHTS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ILLNESSES AND DISEASES, INCLUDING COVID-19.
HCR88	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAYS DIVISION, AND HAWAII COUNTY TO COLLECTIVELY DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPROVE MEALANI ROAD AND ESTABLISH A PROTOCOL TO USE MEALANI ROAD AS AN EMERGENCY BYPASS ROUTE WHEN MAMALAHOA HIGHWAY IS INACCESSIBLE.
HCR90	REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHEN REVIEWING THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF HAWAII GAS BY AN EXTERNAL ENTITY.
HCR93	REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE CREATION AND REGULATION OF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS FOR PRESTATEHOOD SUBDIVISIONS.
HCR105	URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO INCREASE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A STORM WATER UTILITY.
HCR106	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DESIGNATE THE REEF RUNWAY AS THE FRANK T. OKIMOTO REEF RUNWAY.
HCR107	REQUESTING THE COMPLEX AREA SUPERINTENDENTS OF BALDWIN-KEKAULIKE-MAUI AND HANA-LAHAINALUNA-LANAI-MOLOKAI COMPLEX AREAS TO LOOK AT THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES OF ALL SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING, THE NUMBER OF GEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONS, AND THE NUMBER OF HAWAIIAN IMMERSION STUDENTS ATTENDING OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT TO BETTER ALIGN THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND ESTABLISH HAWAIIAN IMMERSION PROGRAMS IN OTHER DISTRICTS.
HCR108	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EXPLORE WAYS IT CAN EXERCISE OVERSIGHT OVER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WHEN A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH EXISTS.
HCR109	ENCOURAGING ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO COOPERATE AND ASSIST KAHO‘OLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION WITH TECHNICAL, ENGINEERING, OR LOGISTICAL SUPPORT IN HELPING THE ISLAND OF KAHO‘OLAWE TO RECOVER FROM THE DEVASTATING FIRE THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2020.
HCR121	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT A PILOT PROGRAM THAT ELIMINATES SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL AND CAPS ALL TYPES OF SUSPENSIONS AT TEN AGGREGATE DAYS PER STUDENT AT THE MIDDLE, INTERMEDIATE, AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS.
HCR122	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PILOT A NEW PROCESS FOR SUSPENSIONS FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR.
HCR132	EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE RACETRACK OR RACEWAY PARK ON OAHU AND REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM; AND THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO FACILITATE AND APPROVE ITS DEVELOPMENT.
HCR144	REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF TOURISM ON COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
HCR145	REQUESTING THE COLLECTION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY INFORMATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH VIA THE BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, AND BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VIA THE YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.
HCR160	APOLOGIZING FOR THE INTERNMENT OF PREDOMINATELY JAPANESE AMERICANS AT THE HONOULIULI INTERNMENT CAMP DURING WORLD WAR II.
HCR184	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, MAYOR OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, AND HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL TO REROUTE FARRINGTON HIGHWAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1998 MAKAHA BEACH PARK MASTER PLAN.
HCR185	REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO EXPEDITE WORK ON THE MAIPALAOA BRIDGE IN MAILI, OAHU AND URGING VARIOUS ENTITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMMEDIATELY OPEN THE SECTION OF THE WAIANAE COAST EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD SYSTEM EXTENDING PAAKEA ROAD OUT TO LUALUALEI NAVAL ROAD FOR PUBLIC USE ON A PERMANENT BASIS.
HCR186	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES REFUSE DIVISION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO SOLVE ITS ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS AT THE WAI‘ANAE CONVENIENCE CENTER.
HR17	RECOGNIZING JAMES T. FUNAKI, ESQ. FOR HIS EXEMPLARY CAREER AND EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE STATE OF HAWAII.
HR18	REQUESTING THAT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL INCLUDE HAWAIIAN AIRLINES IN THE NEWSPAPER'S FUTURE RANKINGS OF THE BEST AND WORST AIRLINES IN THE UNITED STATES.
HR29	CONVENING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASK FORCE TO DETERMINE COHERENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE TIMELY ADMISSION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PATIENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL AS NON-FORENSIC PATIENTS.
HR30	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE REIMPLEMENTATION OF ADULT DENTAL BENEFITS FOR HAWAII RESIDENTS WHO ARE MEDICAID ENROLLEES.
HR32 HD1	REQUESTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT, PARTICULARLY THE EFFECTS ON MINORITY GROUPS.
HR36	URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE TRAINING, COURSES, AND CURRICULUM RELATED TO THE MECHANICS, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, HYDROGEN VEHICLES, AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES IN ITS SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
HR46	DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND REQUESTING IMMEDIATE AND ACCELERATED ACTION TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING TO 1.5 DEGREES CELSIUS.
HR64	URGING ALL COMMERCIAL AIRLINES OPERATING IN HAWAII TO THOROUGHLY CLEAN AND DISINFECT THEIR AIRCRAFT BETWEEN FLIGHTS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ILLNESSES AND DISEASES, INCLUDING COVID-19.
HR69	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAYS DIVISION, AND HAWAII COUNTY TO COLLECTIVELY DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPROVE MEALANI ROAD AND ESTABLISH A PROTOCOL TO USE MEALANI ROAD AS AN EMERGENCY BYPASS ROUTE WHEN MAMALAHOA HIGHWAY IS INACCESSIBLE.
HR71	REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHEN REVIEWING THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF HAWAII GAS BY AN EXTERNAL ENTITY.
HR74	REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE CREATION AND REGULATION OF HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS FOR PRESTATEHOOD SUBDIVISIONS.
HR76	CONGRATULATING THE LAHAINALUNA LUNAS ON WINNING THE 2019 DIVISION II FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
HR86	URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO INCREASE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A STORM WATER UTILITY.
HR87	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DESIGNATE THE REEF RUNWAY AS THE FRANK T. OKIMOTO REEF RUNWAY.
HR88	REQUESTING THE COMPLEX AREA SUPERINTENDENTS OF BALDWIN-KEKAULIKE-MAUI AND HANA-LAHAINALUNA-LANAI-MOLOKAI COMPLEX AREAS TO LOOK AT THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES OF ALL SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING, THE NUMBER OF GEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONS, AND THE NUMBER OF HAWAIIAN IMMERSION STUDENTS ATTENDING OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT TO BETTER ALIGN THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES AND ESTABLISH HAWAIIAN IMMERSION PROGRAMS IN OTHER DISTRICTS.
HR89	REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EXPLORE WAYS IT CAN EXERCISE OVERSIGHT OVER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WHEN A DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH EXISTS.
HR90	ENCOURAGING ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO COOPERATE AND ASSIST KAHO‘OLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION WITH TECHNICAL, ENGINEERING, OR LOGISTICAL SUPPORT IN HELPING THE ISLAND OF KAHO‘OLAWE TO RECOVER FROM THE DEVASTATING FIRE THAT BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2020.
HR125	REQUESTING THE COLLECTION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY INFORMATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH VIA THE BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, AND BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION VIA THE YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.
HR129	REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF CASH PAYMENTS MADE IN LIEU OF PROVIDING RESERVED HOUSING AT PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
HR139	APOLOGIZING FOR THE INTERNMENT OF PREDOMINATELY JAPANESE AMERICANS AT THE HONOULIULI INTERNMENT CAMP DURING WORLD WAR II.
HR162	URGING THE COUNTIES TO FREEZE PROPERTY TAXES AT THEIR CURRENT LEVELS FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO CURRENTLY, AND HAVE CONTINUOUSLY, RESIDED ON THEIR PROPERTY FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
HR163	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, MAYOR OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, AND HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL TO REROUTE FARRINGTON HIGHWAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1998 MAKAHA BEACH PARK MASTER PLAN.
HR164	REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO EXPEDITE WORK ON THE MAIPALAOA BRIDGE IN MAILI, OAHU AND URGING VARIOUS ENTITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMMEDIATELY OPEN THE SECTION OF THE WAIANAE COAST EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD SYSTEM EXTENDING PAAKEA ROAD OUT TO LUALUALEI NAVAL ROAD FOR PUBLIC USE ON A PERMANENT BASIS.
HR165	URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES REFUSE DIVISION OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO SOLVE ITS ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS AT THE WAI‘ANAE CONVENIENCE CENTER.

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June 10, 2020

Maui County's Share of CIP Funds is More Than $533 Million

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More than $533 million was set aside for Capital Improvement Projects on Maui, Lana'i and Moloka'i as part of the $5.1 billion CIP budget bill passed by the state legislature on May 21 for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021.

"A major focus of this year has been to continue investing in the aging infrastructure of our schools. One of the top priorities for Baldwin High School has been obtaining their own locker room, weight room, and dance facility on-campus so they can vacate county facilities," said Representative Troy Hashimoto. "The funds have been secured for both the planning and construction and I hope to see it completed in the near future."

HB 2725 HD1 SD1 provides funds for Capital Improvement Projects including many "shovel ready" construction projects that can begin work quickly providing much needed jobs to help resuscitate our struggling economy due to the coronavirus.

"Very happy we were able to sharpen our pencils and fund these important projects. Many of these projects like the $9 million for infrastructure to build the next phase of Villages of Leali'i and the $7.6 million for Lahainaluna Campus, will improve our quality of life will help kick start our economy as well," said Representative Angus L. K. McKelvey. SPONSORED VIDEO

House Lower and Higher Education Chair Justin H. Woodson said a top CIP project is the $3 million set aside to plan and design a much needed new middle school in central Maui.

"In this time of financial crisis Capital Improvement Projects are critical to help spur our local economy. This is a perfect time to make much needed renovations, repairs and major maintenance to existing facilities," said Woodson.

Maui County projects include renovations, repairs, and major maintenance to existing facilities, landscape improvements, new construction, land acquisition, and utility modifications.

June 3, 2020

Lawmakers, Union Officials Are Pushing Back Against State Pay Cuts

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Although Gov. David Ige has not made a decision yet to impose furloughs on state workers, some of Hawaii's public workers unions are intent on killing the proposal before it ever gets going.

In the past week, Ige has met privately with those union leaders as well as House Speaker Scott Saiki and Senate President Ron Kouchi to discuss a possible 20% pay cut for workers in the state.

Lawmakers along with heads of the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the Hawaii State Teachers Association joined a growing chorus of public workers in the state calling on Ige to look to other areas of the state budget before cutting workers' pay.

"Although Governor Ige has the unilateral authority to impose furloughs and salary cuts, we do not agree with such action," Saiki and Kouchi said in a statement. "We urge the Governor to obtain better data and analysis before he makes this decision." Masked Governor David Ige during COVID19 press conference held at the Capitol. April 8, 2020.

Gov. David Ige won't implement pay cuts yet, and Hawaii's public workers unions want to make sure he never does.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Ige said those cuts won't come yet, and that he is exploring other options - although he provided almost no details on what those options might be in a press conference Wednesday.

He also announced that he and his cabinet would also take pay cuts if furloughs are imposed on state workers.

The state is projecting hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax revenue as a result of the tourism downturn. Ige said Wednesday that the state may need to shave $1.5 billion off the state's $16 billion budget over the next six months.

But it still has other options to save money. And in December, state officials reported a carryover balance of over $600 million from last fiscal year.

Hawaii is poised to receive nearly $10 million in a federal bailout through the CARES Act to support education during the coronavirus crisis.

Although Saiki and Kouchi oppose the pay cuts, they said the Legislature will still work with Ige on balancing the budget.

"Although we disagree with Governor Ige’s proposal, the Legislature will work with him to assess and pursue all options," they said in a written statement. Money Committees Eyeing Cuts

State lawmakers were already looking for places to save money once the pandemic struck.

"I think we need to exhaust other options first," Senate Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz said Wednesday. "Cut some of those programs that are no longer useful."

Dela Cruz said the state could also look to tap certain special funds that have accrued over the years. He also suggested Ige wait for federal money earmarked for helping states to come in.

Lawmakers were considering eliminating certain tax credits that go unused to free up some funds.

Dela Cruz said he hopes the governor takes this as an opportunity to change the way the government does business. With both public and private sector employees working from home, Dela Cruz said it may be time for the state to consider telework options, which could save money on facility use.

"There's got to be a way where, when we reopen government, we reopen it in a much more efficient way to provide public service," he said. Finance Chair Sylvia Luke and Donovan Dela Cruz Look on during county Mayors reports.

Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz and Rep. Sylvia Luke also want Ige to look at other options before furloughing employees.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke said neither she nor Dela Cruz were consulted before Ige came up with the furlough proposal. Luke noted that the state has $391 million in its rainy day fund.

"I think we need to proceed cautiously," Luke said. "There are unemployment issues, record number of job losses. UI, NAP, Medquest claims. If there's any time to dip into the rainy day this would be it."

HGEA Director Randy Perreira also urged Ige to look for other places to find money or cut the budget before jumping straight to furloughs.

In a letter to the governor on Tuesday, Perreira suggested looking at money that has been budgeted for vacant positions that are still unfilled.

Perreira asked that the state forego payments to the Hawaii Employee Retirement System, and the Employee Union Health Benefit Trust Fund. On Wednesday, Ige didn't commit to that option when asked but said he is exploring multiple options to save money.

Ige said that $868 million in federal CARES Act funding coming to Hawaii can't be used for existing government operations, or to cover pay.

The HSTA is also coming out strongly against the cuts.

A 20% salary cut for a DOE teacher would mean a reduction of $600 to $1,800 in monthly income for educators, according to HSTA. The average teacher pay in Hawaii is $65,000.

HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said a 20% reduction in teacher salaries instituted across the board would result in cost savings of roughly $80 million a month. But funding is still pending from the federal stimulus package and with the state's surplus and rainy day funds, any salary reduction is premature, he said.

"If we cut teacher salaries it will force teachers to retire and our new teachers to leave. We cannot open our schools if we don't have enough teachers," he said. Few Details Available

In a video conference call with reporters Wednesday, Rosenlee said he had few details on the proposed cuts to members.

"We have not been given anything written as a proposal, whether a salary cut or a furlough. They did say they would talk to us more some," he said.

HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck met with the governor's representatives Tuesday, Rosenlee said, adding the proposed cuts were “not a suggestion.”

The HSTA represents roughly 13,700 teachers and counselors statewide.

HSTA members would not be the only DOE employees affected by the proposed cuts. HGEA, the state’s largest state worker union, represents roughly 2,700 education assistants who serve as staff support to teachers as well as other DOE personnel like administrators and principals.

Rosenlee first sounded the alarm in a letter email blast circulated to teachers late Tuesday night, in which he said Hawaii's public sector unions had "received ominous news" from the Ige administration.

The letter communicated the governor’s intention to implement a 20% salary cut for most public sector employees including teachers, and a 10% cut for first responders like nurses, police officers and firefighters.

"This is unacceptable," Rosenlee said in the letter, a copy of which was provided to Civil Beat. "We believe cutting salaries for tens of thousands of state workers is rash and will hurt our state even more."

The state is already contending with a teacher shortage. Starting this year, the DOE began offering pay differentials to the hardest to retain teachers: those in special education, Hawaiian immersion and who are based in remote, rural areas. HSTA President Corey Rosenlee at DOE presser announcing pay increases for special needs and Hawaiian language teachers.

HSTA President Corey Rosenlee is urging Gov. David Ige to reconsider any pay cuts or teacher furloughs.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The pay bumps, which ranged from an additional $3,000 to $10,000 yearly, will be untouched the rest of this school year, given they were budgeted into the DOE's current fiscal year budget, which ends June 30, said Board of Education chairwoman Catherine Payne.

DOE officials had been lobbying for additional legislative funding to continue those pay differentials into the 2020-21 school year and beyond before session was abruptly cut short due to coronavirus.

"We're not anticipating any change through the end of the school year for our teachers — they're still working, they're just working in a different way," said Payne.

During Thursday's HSTA call, several educators spoke about how a pay cut could devastate their futures. Dana Shishido, a third grade teacher at Wheeler Elementary and 30-year DOE veteran, said she would consider an early retirement.

Jodi Kunimitsu, a math teacher at Maui High, said the difference in the pay cut for her would be equivalent to the cost of her son’s childcare.

"It always seems the budget is trying to be balanced on the backs of the most essential workers," she said.

The last time the state imposed furloughs was during the 2009 economic crisis. Then-Gov. Linda Lingle imposed 24 Furlough Fridays for state workers starting June 2009, including 17 days of Furlough Fridays for DOE teachers which lasted nearly an entire school year, from October 2009 to May 2010.

Lawmakers who work on education issues are also concerned about cuts to teacher and staff pay.

House Rep. Amy Perruso, a teacher at Mililani High who represents Wahiawa, said this move was "really premature" and reflected "unbelievably poor leadership."

"It's just ridiculous, unless their intention is to actually gut state government," she said. "I don’t think they really have a sense of what our financial situation will look like. We haven't seen all those monies flow into state coffers yet."

Rep. Justin Woodson, chair of the House Lower and Higher Education committee, said there had been informal conversations in the Legislature on mitigation to deal with a potentially double-digit percent loss in state revenue due to the economic hit. One of those tools included furloughs, he said.

"We should attempt to look for other avenues before cutting pay," he said. "Education shouldn't be looked at as a first option."

March 9, 2020

Joint Economic Package Seeks to Benefit Maui County Working Families

Link to MauiNow article

Maui's working families could see benefits in affordable housing, expanded child care, and tax relief from a joint House and Senate package of economic bills being introduced during the 2020 Legislative Session.

House Lower & Higher Education Committee Chair Justin H. Woodson said the bill package could change the lives of many of Maui's working families for generations to come.

"These measure focus on increasing wages and providing tax benefits, investing in child care and early learning, and creating more affordable housing units. Taken together this will increase economic stability and expand the middle class," said Representative Woodson.

Woodson said that the joint legislative bill package is in response to the issues highlighted in the Aloha United Way sponsored report, "ALICE: A Study of Financial Hardship in Hawaii."

The ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) report describes the economic hardships facing many working individuals and families in Hawai?i. According to the report, after allocating monies to pay for expenses such as housing, child care, food, taxes, health care, and transportation, a family of four needs to earn roughly $77,000 a year simply to survive.

This is the first time since 2004 that a joint House and Senate legislative bill package has been introduced at the start of a session. The package also has the strong backing of the Governor and several community advocate groups.

"Being at the community level, I see it every day how people from all walks of life are just hardly making ends meet. Living paycheck to paycheck not affording housing and when someone in the family is ill it just puts limitations on the family budget and they are unable to put food on the table," said Cesar Gaxiola, Executive Director of the J. Walter Cameron Center. "In the last few years, I have seen so many of the younger generation moved to the mainland since salaries here are not enough to cover their education nor their living expenses. I am glad to see our State officials, legislature, private sector and nonprofits in alliance to effectively deal with the circumstances and find a compromise to abet our communities."

"I join with my Maui Senate colleagues in strong support of a holistic approach to assisting the working poor," said Senator Rosalyn Baker (South and West Maui). "Many of these families are headed by women and apt to be in low-wage jobs. Enacting a refundable earned income tax credit, coupled with an increase in the minimum wage, will be more impactful for these single-parent households. In addition, providing greater access to public pre-school will not only give their children a learning head start, but also a home budget savings in providing childcare. This approach will be both cost effective for the State in the long run and beneficial to families as well."

The economic package includes: -Targeting tax relief for working class families and individuals,
-Increasing the minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2024,
-Providing $75 million in General Obligation Bonds for the neighbor island counties to defray affordable housing infrastructure costs,
-Providing tax exemptions for developers to build market priced homes,
-Expanding childcare options for parents to all university sites statewide and in rural areas with limited childcare options,
-Creating a new Schools Facilities Agency and allow DOE to focus on education.
-Reducing Income Inequality

To put money back into the pockets of residents, one measure will provide tax relief for working families by making the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) refundable and permanent. That means qualified families can get a cash refund of up to $380 through this tax credit.

According to the ALICE report, minimum wage is not nearly enough to live on. This package includes a bill that will provide incremental increases in the minimum wage bringing it to $13 an hour by 2024.

"I support the strategy of addressing the challenges of our working poor in a holistic way. Our working poor-many of them single-parent households-need help with Hawaii's high cost of living and housing. It makes sense to provide income relief with a hike in the minimum wage and making the Earned Income Tax Credit refundable, but one of the biggest costs faced by them is childcare," said Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran (Wailuku, Waihe'e, Kahului). "So, accelerating public pre-school availability is a way to address child care. Finally, to get serious with getting homes built, the State and the Counties need to streamline the process for projects that are providing housing for local residents and for the State to invest in infrastructure that will reduce the costs of building those homes."

Increasing Affordable Housing Many in Hawai?i cannot afford to buy a home, especially when they have to compete with outside investors with deep pockets. To address this issue, the state will identify publicly-owned properties that can be used to develop 99-year leasehold units. Half of those homes will be reserved for working-class families earning 140 percent of the area median income (AMI).

The state will also invest $75 million in General Obligation Bonds on the neighbor islands to defray affordable housing infrastructure costs and offer a General Excise Tax exemption for projects that meet the goal of 140% AMI or below.

"This funding will directly benefit Maui residents by helping to pay for the infrastructure - the roads, sewers, utility lines - that developers need to build affordable housing," said Representative Troy N. Hashimoto (Kahakuloa, Waihe'e, Waiehu, Pu'uohala, Wailuku, Waikapu). "Our residents need affordable homes."

"This is especially important for Maui residents," said Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey (West Maui, Ma'alaea, North Kihei). "We do not have enough homes for working families and those available or too expensive or too small. I'm happy that the legislature is taking up these issues this session."

Access to Learning for all 3- and 4-year-olds Many families are forced to forgo child care and early learning for their children and those who do budget for child care spend about one-third of their incomes on it.

To solve this problem, this package contains a bill to create a public-private model to increase the capacity at existing private childcare facilities supported with public funds and also develop new facilities for early learning programs for 3- and 4-year-old children where they are needed.

State-owned sites in rural areas and on all the university campuses will provide space to expand the number of early learning centers.

"It is well known that students that have the benefit of early learning do better when they enter school," said Education Chair Woodson. "All parents want what is best for their children and this proposal will help give them a better education."

Building Educational Results In order to allow the Department of Education to focus on its primary purpose of teaching our children, the legislature proposes to create a new Schools Facilities Agency to oversee major construction and repair projects in our schools.

The Governor will appoint an executive director for the new agency which will be responsible for all public school construction except for repair and maintenance projects that cost $100,000 or less. "This proposal will allow the DOE to focus on teaching our children rather than construction and repair projects," said Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita (Spreckelsville, Pukalani, Makawao, Kula, Keokea, Ulupalakua, Kahului). "This will be a great benefit for our students, parents, and teachers "

"It's a matter of letting the DOE focus on their primary mission for providing our students with the best education possible," said Rep. Lynn DeCoite (Ha'iku, Hana, Kaupo, Kipahulu, Nahiku, Pa'ia, Kaho'olawe, Lana'i, Moloka'i, Molokini).

March 9, 2020

Early Education To Expand But Lawmakers Grapple With What That Means

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State lawmakers have recognized the need for affordable child care in the state, so much so that they've made it a part of a joint-legislative package negotiated by the governor and House and Senate leaders.

But a divide is emerging between those who want flexibility in qualifying child care or early learning teachers and those who say instructors must be well-trained in early childhood. And teacher qualifications impact the level of care and learning that could be provided in an expanded system.

A 2017 study by the University of Hawaii's Center on the Family found the demand for child care in the state greatly exceeded the supply. Although 64% of children need care because their parents work, state Department of Human Service-regulated child care providers can only take in 25% of that group.

One of the major initiatives of the joint package is Senate Bill 3101 that aims to expand parents' options for early learning opportunities for children between 3- and 4-years-old. The measure calls for moving the Executive Office of Early Learning, which currently operates Hawaii's public preschool program within the Department of Education, to the Department of Human Services. It would also rename the office to the "Learning to Grow Agency."

House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke is one of the backers of the bill. She explains that in order to expand early learning in the state, there must be collaboration with the private sector -- something she says the Department of Education cannot carry out.

"About 20,000 kids every year, 3- and 4-year-olds do not have access to any type of preschools, child care or early education opportunities . . . number one because of finances and number two because it's not available in that area," she said. "Part of it was really about providing child care and learning opportunities for children so that it helps working families go back to work."

Luke envisions the early learning initiative as building off existing programs in the Department of Human Services, such as one that verifies early childhood workers meet the education and experience requirements for licensing child care centers.

The bill would establish a state goal of providing access to early learning programs to all 3- to 4-year-old children. In 2018, the National Institute for Early Education Research reported that only about 6% of the state's three-year-olds and 7% of four-year-olds were enrolled in Hawaii's public preschools.

Under current state law, the Executive Office of Early Learning is responsible for children from prenatal care to their entry into kindergarten. The proposal would limit the agency's jurisdiction to only 3- and 4-year-olds.

State Rep. Justin Woodson, who chairs the House Lower and Higher Education Committee and supports the bill, said although the agency's focus would be narrowed, it would still be the state's long-term goal to offer more programs for younger children.

"There seems to be a synergy within the community, a desire to want to concentrate on that particular age bracket first," he said. "We can only build out so much within a certain amount of time. So that's why the concentration is on 3- and 4-year-olds right now."

During the rollout of the joint-legislative package, Woodson said the goal is to build 100 new classrooms a year over the next decade. He said that these classrooms would not necessarily be defined as preschools.

"It's important to note that this new proposal, the idea is to provide early learning opportunities," he said. "That can be anything from a public pre-kindergarten classroom ... to daycare to also private sector preschool or pre-kindergarten classrooms. The idea is to offer families a whole menu of offerings and that way families can choose what is best for their children."

While excited about the expansion of early learning opportunities, Robyn Chun, director of the University of Hawaii-Manoa Graduate Early Childhood Education Programs, worries about how the initiative might be carried out.

"I think there are two big challenges to expansion. One is facilities, of course," she said. "But the real big question that I constantly come back to with all this legislation is: what is the infrastructure for the workforce?"

In other words, who will teach the children? There's already a shortage of preschool teachers, who must meet strict qualifying standards while earning less than instructors in K-12 grades.

To be a teacher in the current public preschool program, an instructor must complete a bachelor's degree and coursework in early childhood education and meet the Hawaii teacher standards board licensing requirements for a pre-kindergarten teacher.

According to the Hawaii State Teachers Association, there are 500 licensed preschool teachers within the Department of Education, but only a few are actually teaching preschool, likely because they can earn more in higher grades.

Luke said the requirement of having a four-year-degree in early learning may be making it unnecessarily difficult for other professionals, such as retirees who want to return to teaching, to staff preschool classrooms.

"I don't think it's right that we put up those barriers and require an early education degree," she said. "Why would they go for four years and get an early learning degree when they can get a regular education degree and be a special education teacher and then get paid way more?"

She said that is why the bill is written broadly - allowing DHS to coordinate with the private sector to employ teachers who may not necessarily match existing standards for public preschool.

"I don't think we should be concentrating on categorizing what is a preschool and what's not a preschool, what's child care," Luke said. "We're very careful and respectful of the private providers. What we want to concentrate on is providing access to learning for a lot of these kids."

However, Chun said there are key differences in early learning training compared to that for K-12 education. Early learning coursework covers such subjects as child development in social-emotional communication and working with families in the community.

The qualification of teachers affects the level of care that would provided in additional early learning classrooms.

"[Child] care is built around the assumption of providing basic health and safety. . . that's a baseline. I think we have to ask the question whether that's enough, particularly when you're talking about vulnerable families, families in stress," Chun said.

"That takes some knowledge and understanding, and early childhood is a field where the research is interdisciplinary. It's crossing over into knowledge of families and, almost like social work, social support and a network of understanding of child development," she said.

Rep. Woodson noted that although the bill is looking to expand the early learning program, he is not in favor of dismantling public preschools and agrees with Chun that early learning coursework is important.

"The public pre-K program, that will not change, that will not be altered ... we're going to continue to expand our public pre-K program. That is the intention," he said.

"But we're going to offer other early learning opportunities. And these are for families that want their children to be in some sort of early learning setting, but don't right now have that opportunity."

Chun thinks that there needs to be more investment in training early education teachers and growing the field. She said UH has doubled the number of students graduating with early education degrees, but with the same number of faculty.

"If we want to build this, we need to invest in the infrastructure to build this," she said. "The states that are more successful in both expanding out and maintaining that high level . . . are states that have done their homework and put effort into the development so that they can sustain their program over time."

Lawmakers are expected to hear S.B. 3101 in committee sometime in February.

March 9, 2020

Access to Learning Bill Moves Forward in the House

Link to Maui News

The House Committee on Lower & Higher Education and the House Finance Committee today amended and passed HB2543 HD1 to expand early learning opportunities for 3 and 4 year old children across the state.

The bill now moves to the full House for a vote.

"Over the course of the last year we have been working on this bill as a cost of living measure to address the lack of available early learning centers across the state," Rep. Justin H. Woodson said in a press release.

"Today we are making several amendments and adjustments to this bill, and I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to pass this measure because it will greatly benefit our keiki and our working families."

Below is a list of requirements that the bill would mandate:
-The bill requires the parents or guardians of public school kindergarten students to the disclose information on the child's prior child care program or prekindergarten attendance, if any, for the purpose of determining areas with the highest need for prekindergarten and child care programs.
-It requires the Department of Education to assess kindergarten students, establishes the preschool open doors trust fund and requires annual reporting.
-It expands Preschool Open Doors Program eligibility from 4-year-old children to all children who are 3 to 4 years old or will not be at least five years old on or before July 31 of the current school year.
-It requires annual reporting regarding the revenues and expenditures of the early learning special fund and establishes a program for Department of Human Services to award grants for preschools.
-The bill appropriates funds and authorizes positions for the preschool open doors program, appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to expand its information technology system for the purpose of managing information on prekindergarten attendance and child care need and to contract for and operate preschool and child care programs.
-It establishes an Early Learning Coordinator position within the Executive Office on Early Learning.
-It also establishes the goal of providing all children who are 3 to 4 years old, or will not be at least five years old on or before July 31 of the current school year, with enrollment in a preschool program by the year 2030 and assigns that responsibility to the Early Learning Coordinator.
-The bill appropriates funds to the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center for building classrooms for Hawaiian language immersion pre-kindergarten programs and appropriates funds for building early learning services classrooms on public library property.

This early education bill is part of a joint economic package introduced by the House and Senate, and supported by the Ige Administration to address Hawaii's cost of living obstacles.

The joint working class economic package is designed to tackle the issues highlighted in the Aloha United Way sponsored report,"ALICE: A Study of Financial Hardship in Hawaii."

Rep. Sylvia Luke noted that among more than 100 pages of testimony only two testifiers did not support the bills.

"This bill provides an overlay of our vision that within 10 years to provide all children with access to early learning," Luke said.

"It's not as easy as people think it is. It's about providing full access and the ability of working families to have their child ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. This is a huge task and we have relied on you folks for your thoughtful advice and support to get this bill where it is today."

Business, community and nonprofit educational groups have been adamant in their support for this measure.

"As a network of partners that support the health, safety and learning of our youngest keiki, we are excited about the potential expansion of child care and early learning programs for three and four-year olds," said Kerrie Urosevich, Lead for Network Design and Innovation at Hawai`i Early Childhood Action Strategy.

"Over several decades, early childhood partners have worked diligently to elevate the importance of access to affordable and high-quality child care and early learning opportunities, which strengthen family income and support early cognitive, physical and social development. We are deeply grateful for the proposed financial commitments by the legislature, philanthropy and business sectors to make it happen. The implementation of this 10-year vision will only be successful if we leverage the early childhood eco-system together, with leaders from programs, philanthropy, business, the legislature, state departments and families themselves. There is no more important job than the one that builds the brains and hearts of our youngest in our society. Creating viable plans that will ensure early childhood providers are able to make a living wage in Hawai'i is imperative for the success of the expansion and should be prioritized. The economic stimulus package, of which HB2543 is a part, would begin to put families on the path toward economic stability and begin to create the needed foundations for young keiki and families to thrive."

April 17, 2019

Legislature Provides $2.3M in Support for Community College Students

In recent years, paying for a college education has become too expensive for many people, and students who are at an economic disadvantage are disproportionately affected. To offset costs for tuition and basic needs, state lawmakers have passed two bills appropriating more than $2.3 million in state funds to help our young people achieve their dream of a college degree.
The first bill is SB316 SD2 HD2 - Hawaii Community College Promise Program.

This bill provides $1.4 million ($700,000 for each of the next two fiscal years) to cover community college tuition for eligible students once all other federal aid and public and private scholarships are exhausted. The bill also requires the University of Hawaii to collect data on how well the Promise Program directly increases the likelihood that a recipient attends college and completes a degree program.

Rep. Justin H. Woodson (Kahului, Pu'unene, Old Sand Hills, Maui Lani), Chair of the House Lower & Higher Education Committee, said the Hawai'i Promise Program has helped more than 1,500 community college students since it began in 2017.

"The Legislature wants to ensure that as much of these funds as possible go to students who may not otherwise have attended college, and that the scholarship is effective in helping students complete a degree program," said Rep. Woodson. "If you want to invest in yourself, then we at the Legislature want to invest in you."

The second bill is SB50 SD2 HD1 - Hawai'i Nutrition Employment and Training Program (HINET).
This bill appropriates $910,000 ($455,000 for each of the next two fiscal years) to continue the HINET program and hire seven full-time instructional and student support positions. HINET is a workforce and education training program offered to students who receive or are eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and are enrolled at least part-time at a UH community college in an approved program. HINET helps students cover the cost of food, transportation, books, and necessary tools. HINET staff work with students one-on-one to address their needs and goals, and match them with training.

Sen. Donna Mercado Kim (Kapalama, 'Alewa, Kalihi Valley, Ft. Shafter, Moanalua Gardens & Valley, portions of Halawa and 'Aiea) said the HINET program began in 2015 and is a partnership between the state Department of Human Services and the University of Hawaii's community colleges.

"These bills attest to the Legislature's focus on education and the future by not only helping our students with their tuition, but by helping them not have to worry if they are going to be able to feed themselves, if they are going to be able to afford their textbooks, and how they are going to get to campus on time," said Kim, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. "These two measures work together to bring support the whole student so they can be successful in achieving their educational dreams."

Bernadette Garrett, who will soon graduate from Windward Community College, said the HINET program's support has changed her life.

"I'm so thankful. This program helped me be able to choose education over just working. To pay for my textbooks and other needs," Garrett said. "The HINET program gave me the motivation and confidence to ensure that as a first-generation Native Hawaiian college student I can continue on the path that my kupuna, my mother, set out for me."

Rep. Woodson said statistics from the HINET Program found that 72% of the participants returned for their next academic year, compared to 54% of all UH community college students.

"About 58% of the participants are Native Hawaiian," said Woodson. "As of February, the program has had 543 enrollees and more than 200 University of Hawai?i Community College students are receiving assistance. About 140 enrollees completed a two-year program and are employed or transferred to a four-year campus."

Both bills now advance to Governor David Ige for approval or veto.

July 12, 2018

Rep. Woodson Supports Kahului Civic Center Mixed-Use Project

Representative Justin H. Woodson of Maui says the recent approval of the Kahului Civic Center Mixed-Use Project and multi-family rental housing units by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors is a positive move toward providing more affordable housing.

"This is a good first step to provide much needed affordable housing in Central Maui," said Rep. Woodson whose district covers Kahului, Puunene, Old Sand Hills and Maui Lani. "I greatly support the Board's approval and look forward to working with governmental agencies to bring more affordable for sale and rental units back to Maui."

The HHFDC has approved a Memorandum of Understanding, ground lease, Right-of-Entry, and budget for the Kahului Civic Center project, which includes a new Maui Bus hub and affordable rental housing units in Central Maui.

Earlier this year the legislature approved $2.5 million for the plans, land acquisition, design, and construction for the project. The project will include the Maui Bus hub which will replace the current transit hub at Queen Kaahumanu Center. The Maui Department of Transportation is required to vacate the current hub by Jan. 31, 2020.

The Board also approved $1.5 million from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Funds to be used for multi-family affordable rental housing units for families at or below 60% of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development median income.

March 29, 2017

House approves $31.2 million for Central Maui CIP

Rep. Woodson and Maui delegation spearhead coordinated effort for Valley Isle initiatives; Woodson's UH Promise Program bill moves to the Senate

Honolulu, Hawaii - As part of the current state budget proposal, the House approved $31.2 million for capital improvement projects for Kahului Elementary School, Maui Waena Intermediate School, Kahului Airport, and Kahului Harbor.

"The Maui delegation and I worked hard to gradually upgrade and improve facilities throughout Central Maui," said Representative Justin Woodson (Kahului, Pu'unene, Old Sand Hills, Maui Lani). "We're making good progress thus far."

Among the appropriations, about $1.5 million will go to the two remaining District 9 schools in need of air conditioning units - Kahului Elementary School and Maui Waena Intermediate School. "These funds will bring us closer to our heat abatement goals here in Maui," said Woodson.

Nearly $29.6 million will go toward renovations at Kahului Airport. The funds are designated for holdroom and gate construction and improvements.

"The updated facilities will enhance everyone's experiences using the airport and hopefully, encourage return visitors," said Woodson. An additional $150,000 in funding was also provided for the purchase of a portable bathroom complex for Kahului Harbor.

Kahului Elementary School Plans and designs for air conditioning units; ground and site improvements; equipment and appurtenances. $700,000 Maui Waena Intermedia School Plans and designs for air conditioning units; ground and site improvements; equipment and appurtenances. 800,000 Kahului Airport Design and construction for holdroom and gate improvements and other related improvements. 29,573,000 Kahului Harbor Equipment for the purchase of a large portable bathroom complex to service the harbor. 150,000 TOTAL $31,223,000

In addition to CIP funding, on March 9, the House of Representatives crossed over House Bill (HB) 1594, the Hawaii Promise Program, to the Senate. Woodson introduced the bill, which received the support of all 51 representatives.

The Hawaii Promise Program would help students who qualify to have their remaining unmet financial aid paid through state funds, allowing them to attend college for free.

While David Governor Ige, in his State of the State address, announced that he would support a program to provide two years of free tuition, HB 1594 would extend the support to four years.

"There is no better promise we can make to our young people than that they will get the chance to receive career or technical training and education," said Woodson. "Giving students a helping hand through financial aid is one of the most important bills the legislature can pass this session."

July 1, 2013

MAUI LAWMAKERS PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SIGNING OF BILL

Wailea, Maui - Joined by a delegation of Maui lawmakers and community groups, Governor Abercrombie this morning signed into law House Bill 1424, which authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to utilize an appropriation of $20 million for the purchase and acquisition of land parcels at Lipoa Point.

Maui House legislators participating in the public signing ceremony today included Speaker Joseph M. Souki, Representatives Angus McKelvey, Mele Carroll, Kaniela Ing, and Justin Woodson.

Other measures signed into law this morning include:

SB498 which appropriates $600,000 for the establishment of a Maalaea-based special emergency medical response vehicle unit to service the island of Maui on a twenty-four hour, seven-days a week basis. This will supplement the two ambulances already servicing Maui Island and will directly impact the health of Maui residents for the better.

SB1412 shall require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to accommodate native Hawaiian canoes for cultural and education purposes at small boat harbors across the State.

HB1328 will increase the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission's purchasing flexibility by making permanent the exemption for the procurement of food or fuel products.

June 21, 2013

Capital Improvement Projects: Central Maui Middle Schools receive $500,000

Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $134.7 million for capital improvement projects (CIPs), identified by members of the state Legislature, that will improve Hawaii's public school facilities while enhancing economic conditions.

"It gives me great satisfaction to share with you that my Administration is releasing the following CIP funds for work in your District: $500,000 has been allocated to Central Maui Middle Schools, Maui." Governor Abercrombie said. "The improvements are an investment in our keiki and our economy. Capital improvement projects like these across the state are contributing to Hawaii's strong economy and our improved state unemployment rate, which declined to 4.7 percent in May."

Funds for Central Maui Middle Schools will be used to implement planning for a new school that will accommodate the population growth in Central Maui. According to the Department of Education, schools in the area are already over capacity.

As a condition for developing a housing project in Central Maui, the developer has set aside space for this new school (no funds to purchase land will be needed).

June 20, 2013

Capital Improvement Projects: Kahului Airport and Kahului Harbor

Throughout the 2013 Legislative Session Representative Justin Woodson has worked diligently for the people of Maui. As a member of the Finance Committee, Representative Woodson was able to help secure funding for the development of Maui's two most imperative forms of freight transportation, the Kahului Airport and the Kahului Harbor. He was also able to assist in receiving the Department of Transportation's full request of $50 Million dollars for the Kahului Airport and $6 Million dollars for the Kahului Harbor.

These funds will be used for the Kahului Airport for land acquisition and much needed renovations. Kahului Airport experiences over 5.3 million passenger arrivals and departures a year. With such a large influx of visitors and Kamaaiana traveling interisland, development is essential for the continued operation of the facility. The most prominent improvement the airport is expected to receive will be a secondary access road from Hana Highway that will bring drivers directly to the terminal. The land acquisition will also provide room to develop rental car facilities.

Kahului Harbor is one of ten commercial harbors within the State of Hawaii. It is Maui's only deep draft commercial harbor and is the third busiest in the state system. Most goods used by Maui residents and visitors arrive through the Kahului Harbor. The Department of Transportation projects that due to limited land capacity the Harbor will not be able to keep up with the demand of goods necessary. In light of this information and ongoing communication between Representative Justin Woodson and the Department of Transportation, the 2013 Legislature found it necessary to appropriate funds in the amount of $6 million dollars. These funds will be used for improvements to provide safer and more efficient operations at Kahului harbor.

Hawaii State Legislature

Maui County's Share of CIP Funds is More Than $533 Million

Lawmakers, Union Officials Are Pushing Back Against State Pay Cuts

Joint Economic Package Seeks to Benefit Maui County Working Families

Early Education To Expand But Lawmakers Grapple With What That Means

Access to Learning Bill Moves Forward in the House

Legislature Provides $2.3M in Support for Community College Students

Rep. Woodson Supports Kahului Civic Center Mixed-Use Project

House approves $31.2 million for Central Maui CIP

MAUI LAWMAKERS PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SIGNING OF BILL

Capital Improvement Projects: Central Maui Middle Schools receive $500,000

Capital Improvement Projects: Kahului Airport and Kahului Harbor