THE SENATE

THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2007

 

COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair

Senator Shan S. Tsutsui, Vice Chair

 

NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING

 

 

DATE:

Thursday, March 29, 2007

TIME:

9:30 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 211

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

The following bills were previously heard in their respective subject matter committees.  For this decision-making, only written comments will be accepted; no oral testimony will be accepted.

 

 

HB 90

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1262)

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Enacts the National Conference of Insurance Legislators market conduct surveillance model law, which establishes a framework for the insurance commissioner to conduct market conduct examinations of domestic and foreign insurers.  Appropriates funds.  (SD1)

 

CPH, WAM

HB 667

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1263)

RELATING TO KUKUI GARDENS RENTAL HOUSING COMPLEX.

Appropriates funds to purchase a property interest to acquire the Kukui Gardens rental housing complex.  Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds.  (SD1)

 

CPH, WAM

HB 1322

SD1

(SSCR1229)

RELATING TO INSURANCE LICENSING.

Re-establishes the issuance and all services fees applicable to limited line motor vehicle rental company producer's licensee.  Requires adjusters and independent bill reviewers' place of business be located the licensee principally conducts transactions under the license.  (SD1)

 

CPH, WAM

HB 1334

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1230)

RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LICENSING FEES.

Provides the department of commerce and consumer affairs' professional and vocational licensing division with the flexibility to increase or decrease licensing fees in certain licensing program areas in an expedited manner.  (SD1)

 

CPH, WAM

HB 1902

SD1

(SSCR1266)

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST UTILITIES SERVING THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Authorizes issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist electric utilities.  (SD1)

 

CPH, WAM

HB 1452

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1240)

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the department of health to take soil samples within 500 meters of Schofield Barracks to assess for depleted uranium, at least once every 3 months, and annually report to the legislature.  (SD1)

 

IGM/HTH, WAM

HB 92

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1331)

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Requires an investment broker and agent who share compensation for their services to pay the general excise tax on only that portion of the compensation retained by each.  Effective 7/1/2007. (SD1)

 

CPH, EDT, WAM

HB 317

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1323)

RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT ORGANIZATIONS.

Exempts from the general excise tax amounts that a client company pays to a professional employment organization that will be expended to pay the wages, salaries, payroll taxes, and benefits of the employees hired by a client company; provides that the exemption shall not apply if the professional employment organization has failed to pay any tax withholding or any federal or state taxes.  (SD1)

 

EDT, WAM

HB 506

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1342)

RELATING TO ETHANOL.

Extends the tax credit for qualified ethanol production facilities for 5 years from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2017.  (SD1)

 

ENE, EDT, WAM

HB 902

HD2, SD2

(SSCR1339)

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TAX CREDITS.

Establishes the important agricultural land agricultural business tax credit.  (SD2)

 

WAH, EDT, WAM

HB 1083

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1325)

RELATING TO HIGH TECHNOLOGY.

Authorizes the high technology development corporation to negotiate a lease agreement and lease guaranty for a period of five years for approximately ninety-nine thousand square feet of laboratory and office space in a life sciences research complex in Kakaako.  (SD1)

 

EDT, WAM

HB 1277

HD2, SD2

(SSCR1345)

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Establishes a tax credit for the revitalization of the leeward coast.  Provides an income tax credit for affordable rental housing and educational and training facilities constructed on the leeward coast of Oahu.  Repeals the Ko Olina Resort and Marina and Makaha Resort tax credit.  (SD1)

 

TSG, EDT, WAM

HB 1289

HD2, SD2

(SSCR1340)

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Establishes that all energy technology systems must be installed and placed in service in the State of Hawaii to obtain the State's income tax energy tax credit; expands tax credits applicable to shareholder pro rata shares in S corporations.  (SD2)

 

ENE, EDT, WAM

HB 55

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1079)

RELATING TO YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION.

Establishes a statewide youth suicide early intervention and prevention program.  Appropriates funds to the department of health to implement the program.  (SD1)

 

HSP/HTH, WAM

HB 104

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1286)

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Amends the medicaid fee schedule law to require an annual adjustment for inflation; changes the medicaid fee schedule to one hundred per cent of the medicare fee schedule for the current year; and appropriates funds.  (SD1)

 

HSP, WAM

HB 150

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1289)

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Extends the sunset date for the allocation of conveyance tax revenues to the rental housing trust fund for five years and changes the allocation to sixty-five per cent; requires the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation to create an affordable housing inventory registry and to report annually on expenditures from the rental housing trust fund; exempts special purpose revenue bonds issued to assist in the development of low‑ and moderate‑income housing projects from the procurement code; and appropriates funds for various homeless and housing programs and projects.  (SD1)

 

HSP/CPH/WAH, WAM

HB 436

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1284)

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Requires med‑QUEST and medicaid coverage for chiropractic care; requires the department of human services to pass funding on to QUEST plans to implement the services; and appropriates funds.  (SD1)

 

HSP/CPH, WAM

HB 807

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1285)

RELATING TO CAREGIVING.

Establishes an office of the long-term care ombudsman within the executive office on aging and appropriates funds for the office to hire additional staff and to support the office's operating costs to ensure adequate services on the neighbor islands.  (SD1)

 

HSP, WAM

HB 825

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1288)

RELATING TO CAREGIVING.

Strengthens support of family caregivers by, among other things:  extending the joint legislative committee on family caregiving, requiring the executive office on aging to conduct a comprehensive assessment of care recipients' needs and the needs of their family caregivers, and appropriating funds to expand services for care recipients and their family caregivers.  Expands SAGE Plus program to the neighbor islands.  (SD1)

 

HSP, WAM

HB 1008

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1281)

RELATING TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE.

Creates a three-year pilot program to expand health care coverage for children in Hawaii; and appropriates funds.  (SD1)

 

HSP/HTH, WAM

HB 1356

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1279)

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION BOARD ALLOWANCE FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH.

Increases the time limit for application for a higher education board allowance.  Provides former foster youth who are between the ages of 22 and 26 years of age on July 1, 2007, and who are already attending a higher education institution, the opportunity to apply for a higher education board allowance within a year.  Increases the maximum age for the benefit with a maximum benefit length of 60 months.  Appropriates funds.  (SD1)

 

HSP, WAM

HB 1361

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1278)

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Corrects chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the Hawaii public housing authority, to reflect the legislature's intent to codify various acts into this chapter, and to make other necessary technical and housekeeping amendments.  (SD1)

 

HSP/IGM, WAM

HB 1364

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1277)

RELATING TO THE STATE RENT SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM.

Broadens participation in the state rent supplement program by removing the statutory limitation on the subsidy amount; increasing the income limits for participation from fifty per cent of area median income to ninety‑five per cent of area median income; and including certain individuals and families living in transitional shelters to be included on the wait list.  (SD1)

 

HSP, WAM

HB 1377

(SSCR1166)

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION.

Increases the expenditure ceiling of the Health Systems special fund to pay for operational costs, and appropriates additional moneys out of the special fund.

 

HTH, WAM

HB 249

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1301)

RELATING TO HUNTING TOURISM.

Provides for a fee of $95 for a seven-day hunting license on a private or commercial shooting preserve with a licensed guide.  Allows the department of land and natural resources to set fees for private and commercial shooting preserve and farmers' licenses.  (SD1)

 

TSG/WAH, WAM

HB 119

SD1

(SSCR1118)

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WATER SYSTEMS.

Provides an exemption from the registration of subdivided lands for offers or dispositions in interest of land that the agribusiness development corporation acquires, if the offer or disposition is for agricultural water systems to provide water for irrigation of agricultural lands.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 399

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1119)

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts for the operation of the soil and water conservation districts.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 652

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1221)

RELATING TO DAM SAFETY.

Adds extensive provisions to the dam safety chapter to improve safety to dams and reservoirs in the State.  Creates dam safety special fund.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 1114

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1295)

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Amends agribusiness development corporation law to refocus and direct the role of the corporation to one of taking control of infrastructure from closing large crop plantation operations and converting the infrastructure for use by multiple diversified agricultural enterprises.  Removes department of agriculture's oversight of the corporation.  Makes Molokai irrigation system water users advisory board a governing board.  Increases number of members of the board.  Allows nomination from Molokai homestead stakeholder organizations.  Establishes the Molokai irrigation special fund for the purpose of repair and maintenance of the Molokai irrigation system.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 1221

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1303)

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Creates a livestock revitalization and food security program.  Appropriates $        in each year of the fiscal biennium.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 1270

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1188)

RELATING TO STATE PLANNING.

Clarifies the office of planning's role in maintaining and coordinating a statewide enterprise geographic information system (GIS).  Appropriates funds to support the implementation of a GIS software enterprise license agreement.  Establishes a special fund to help support the operation and maintenance of the statewide planning and geographic information system.  Appropriates funds for the development of the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 1283

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1219)

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Allows the Hawaii community development authority to sell a fee simple interest in reserved housing units.  Permanently allows Hawaii community development authority to repurchase property.  (SD1)

 

WAH/CPH, WAM

HB 1353

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1117)

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920, AS AMENDED.

Authorizes the transfer of moneys from the Hawaiian home receipts fund to the native Hawaiian rehabilitation fund.  Provides for consultation with beneficiaries when a project includes commercial development.  Establishes the Hawaiian home lands community development fund with revenue-sharing from commercial development projects in order to fund community and cultural programming for beneficiaries of the trust in the Hawaiian homestead communities.  Requires the department of Hawaiian home lands to consult with the beneficiaries of the trust before agreeing to lower allowable loan amounts.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 1848

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1304)

RELATING TO AQUATIC RESOURCES.

Encourages the department of land and natural resources to work with local communities to manage near shore reef resources through the maka‘i o ke kai program.  Provides grants for community-based marines resource management.  Establishes the community-based marine resource management advisory committee to advise the department of land and natural resources' on resource management and fisheries' rules.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 1899

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1305)

RELATING TO KAWAI NUI MARSH.

Requires the city and county of Honolulu to transfer to the State a parcel of pristine wetlands known as Kawai Nui marsh, effective September 1, 2007.  Appropriates funds.  (SD1)

 

WAH, WAM

HB 162

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1312)

RELATING TO STATE FINANCES.

Allows the Child Support Enforcement Agency to impose an annual fee where no public assistance had been paid to the custodial parent and collection for the case exceeds $500.  Transfers, effective 10/1/2007, child support enforcement personnel from the corporation counsel of the city and county of Honolulu and the county of Hawaii to the attorney general without loss of pay, benefits, or, where applicable, civil service status.  (SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 379

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1101)

RELATING TO WITNESSES.

Increases witness fees, mileage fees, and per diem payments for witnesses for criminal cases.  (HB 379 HD1 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1133

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1255)

RELATING TO ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION.

Authorizes voter registration on election day.  Requires office of elections to develop an election day registration system.  Makes appropriation. (HB1133 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1211

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1103)

RELATING TO FAMILY COURT.

Increases fees for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem in family court cases. Effective July 1, 2020.  (HB1211 HD2)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1231

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1257)

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

Provides for the authorization and payment of claims against the State for judgments and settlements.  (HB1231 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1290

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1316)

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND.

Eliminates confusion or misinterpretations regarding which "beneficiaries" of an employee killed in the performance of duty or of a deceased retiree are eligible to become EUTF employee-beneficiaries, provides for non-discrimination to its beneficiaries, awarding of contracts to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder or offeror; protection to the EUTF beneficiaries from breaches of fiduciary duties and (HB1290 HD1 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1292

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1314)

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Repeals provisions that allow: elective officers to exercise their option to join the ERS at any time during their term of office; and elective officers and judges to withdraw from ERS membership while remaining in office.  Repeals the provisions that make ERS membership by elective officers optional and replaces those provisions with a new section that requires elective officers to exercise a one-time irrevocable option to join the ERS when they are elected for the first time (or, in the case of existing office holders, by February 1, 2008).  Sets forth the circumstances under which retirants may return to service as elective officers without suspension of retirement benefits.  Repeals the provision that allows elective officers and judges who have reached the statutory cap on retirement benefits to withdraw from ERS membership by nominally retiring even though they remain in office.  (HB1292 HD1 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1493

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1104)

RELATING TO THE CRIME VICTIM COMPENSATION COMMISSION.

Exempts existing and new employees of the Commission for Crime Victim Compensation from civil service law as established in Chapter 76.  (HB1493 HD2 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1500

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1329)

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SECURITY.

Raises the maximum weekly unemployment benefit to 80% of the average weekly wage.  Changes employer's contribution rates for the fiscal year 2007-2008 to 65% of amount and thereafter to 75% of the amount.  Reduces adequate reserve fund amount after 2007.  (HB1500 HD2 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1614

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1256)

RELATING TO DRUGS.

Appropriates funds to the department of the attorney general to support the activities of the drug nuisance abatement unit.  (HB1614 HD2 SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 1746

SD1

(SSCR1328)

RELATING TO VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEES' BENEFICIARY ASSOCIATION TRUSTS.

Extends the sunset date of Act 245, SLH 2005, to 2013.  Requires employee organizations that establish VEBA trusts to report to the legislature after two full years of implementation and annually thereafter. (SD1)

 

JDL, WAM

HB 497

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1111)

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Clarifies use of moneys in state highway fund for bicycle lanes, bicycle paths, bicycle routes, and bikeways.  Requires department of transportation to involve representatives of the bicycle community in decision making process.  (SD1)

 

TIA, WAM

HB 1003

HD3, SD1

(SSCR1268)

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Statutorily establishes the Hawaii natural energy institute of the University of Hawaii and creates the energy systems development special fund for the development of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies.  Creates the biofuels development revolving loan fund, which will be administered by the Hawaii strategic development corporation, and the Hawaii biofuels program within department of business, economic development, and tourism, to manage the State's transition to energy self-sufficiency based in part on biofuels for power generation and transportation fuels.  Requires department of business, economic development, and tourism to develop and prepare a bioenergy master plan that sets the course for the coordination and implementation of policies and procedures to develop a bioenergy industry in Hawaii.  Appropriates funds.  (SD1)

 

ENE/EDU, WAM

HB 1787

HD1, SD1

(SSCR1209)

RELATING TO ENERGY RESOURCES.

Replaces definition of "energy-savings performance contract" with "energy performance contract" with the addition of commissioning and retro-commissioning; extends the maximum term of an energy performance contract from fifteen to twenty years; allows the state procurement officer to exempt a state energy project from advertising and competitive bidding requirements. (SD1)

 

ENE, WAM

HB 226

HD2, SD1

(SSCR1208)

RELATING TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt reporting and verification of statewide greenhouse gas emissions and to monitor and enforce compliance.  Requires adoption of a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions levels in 1990 to be achieved by 2020.  Requires the adoption of rules to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emission reductions.  Authorizes the adoption of market-based compliance mechanisms.  (SD1)

 

ENE, WAM

HB 1912

SD1

(SSCR1253)

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST BIODIESEL PROJECTS FOR ELECTRICAL GENERATION ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds for BlueEarth Maui Biodiesel, LLC for the planning, design, and construction of a biodiesel refinery on Maui with primary take‑off designated as fuel for electrical generation.  Effective July 1, 2020.  (SD1)

 

ENE, WAM

 

 

 

 

 

ONLY WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED,

NO ORAL TESTIMONY WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 

Persons wishing to submit written comments should include the following information on your comments:

name, title, organization, contact information, position on the bill (support, oppose, or comments),

the decision-making date/time/room number, bill number, title, and committee to which your comments should be referred.  Please submit your comments on 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper (one-sided printing) with 1-inch margins.

 

Submit comments in person, by fax, or by e-mail 24 hours prior to the decision-making.

a.     In person:

b.     By Fax: 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).  Please indicate that 25 copies are needed.

c.     By E-mail: Comments may also be e-mailed if less than 5 pages in length, to: [email protected]  (the Public Access Room, phone 587-0478).  Please indicate that 25 copies are needed.  Please note that the Senator's office will not accept e-mail comments. 

 

Comments received after 9:30 a.m. the day before the decision-making will be stamped “LATE.”

 

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 Rosalyn H. Baker

Chair