Over 160 Legislative Bills Passed in Final Reading

A total of 160 legislative bills were passed in the State Senate and House of Representative’s final reading of legislative bills Tuesday. The approved bills will now move on to Governor David Ige, who will either sign, veto, or pass the bills without his signature.

“I am proud of the Senate’s accomplishments this session,” said Senate Majority Leader, Senator J. Kalani English. “We resolved a number of lingering issues, including Turtle Bay. We also provided support for some of our most fragile members of our community; the homeless, our seniors, our preschoolers, as well as provided safeguards for our natural resources.”

During the discussion, Senators approved measures that would include provisions to support the Senate’s Legislative Agenda, beginning at the start of the 2015 session. These movements would push Hawai’i towards a more resilient and sustainable state.

“The budget that was passed is one that is fiscally prudent, yet addresses many of the priorities of the Senate and the House. Although we were working with a lean budget, we were able to position the State to be in a better position not just for the biennium, but for years to come,” said Senator Jill Tokuda, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means committee.

In budget bill HV500 CD1, nearly $6.6 billion in general funds were approved for the FY2015-2016. For FY2016-2017, $6.862 billion in general funds were approved.

Below are highlight of some of the approved bills:

• Autism Coverage: SB791 CD1 would mandate that insurance companies cover up to $25,000 a year in treatment until a child turns 14.
• Turtle Bay: SB284 CD1 allows the state to enter into an agreement with the owners of Turtle Bay that would protect 665 acres of undeveloped land on the North Shore of Oahu.
• Free Dual Credit Programs for High-Schoolers: SB374 CD1 would waive college tuition for high school students in dual credit programs, such as Running Start and Jump Start, at the University of Hawai’i’s community colleges.
• Health Connector Assistance: SB1028 CD1 would provide $2 million next year for the health insurance marketplace.
• Food/Excise Tax Credit: SB555 CD1 would increase the food/excise tax credit, which hasn’t been changed since it was established in 2007.
• Preschool Open Doors: SB64 CD1 would restore $6 million necessary to run the Preschool Open Doors Program, the statewide school readiness program, next year.
• Community-Based Renewable Energy Projects: SB1050 CD1 would establish a community based renewable energy program, which allows electric utility customers to participate in renewable energy projects that produce electricity, which they can sell back to electric companies.
• Barrel Tax: SB359 CD1 would fund the Environmental Response Revolving Fund with the general fund instead of the barrel tax to ensure there is a consistent stream of funding that supplies investments in clean energy, local agricultural production and environmental emergency responses.
• Kupuna Care: SB964 CD1 would provide an additional $3 million to fund the Kupuna Care program in fiscal year 2016, which is in addition to the base budget of $4.8 million.
• Sex Trafficking: SB265 CD1 would ban sex trafficking and raise the penalties to a class A felony and promote the concept of treating prostitutes as victims rather than criminals.
• Homeless ID Cards: SB273 CD1 would allow homeless people to apply for state identification cards even without the required state and federal documents if a social service organization, attorney, member of the clergy, correctional institution staff or health professional presents a signed statement certifying their personal information. It would waive fees for homeless individuals.
• Ethanol Repeal: SB717 CD1 repeals the existing requirement that gasoline for motor vehicles be composed of 10 percent ethanol.
• Hawai’i Resiliency and Sustainability: SB892 CD1 appropriates funding for Hawai’i resilience and sustainability strategy in the areas of broadband, energy efficiency and smart grid, and water and sewer infrastructure.
• Affirmative Consent: SB387 CD1 would establish an affirmative consent task force to review and make recommendations on the University of Hawai’i’s executive policy on sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
• Multi-Track: SB1345 CD1 would require the Department of Education to develop a transition plan to end multi-track schedules in public schools.