20231213-TownHall

SENATOR MAILE SHIMABUKURO 2023 HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE

Ka‘ena - Makahā - Waiʻanae - Nānākuli - Mā‘ili - Ko Olina

DECEMBER 2023

WESTSIDE TOWNHALL LATEST COMMUNITY UPDATES 2024 CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (CIP) PRIORITIES • Nānākuli High &

Intermediate School Performing Arts Center • Emergency Fire Fighting

Dipping Wells in Wai’anae Coast Valleys • Parallel Access Route

on Pa’akea Road • Turn Lanes at Lualualei

Naval Rd. Nanaikeola St, and Helelua Street.

NEW LEGISLATION CONSIDERED FOR 2024 SESSION

CARRYOVER BILLS TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD THIS SESSION

HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS & CULTURE SB738 SD2 HD1

SB1498 SD1 HD2

Authorizes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to administer a lease award program for beneficiaries on the homestead lease waiting list who are at least sixty years old or terminally ill, under certain conditions. Authorizes qualified successors of certain beneficiaries on the waiting list who died before receiving a lease to file a claim for a lease award within a certain time.

Prohibits the BLNR from disturbing or acquiring for development certain wetland or dryland taro‑growing lands. Establishes a taro lands classification for public lands. Permits structures for loi or mala taro fields in agricultural district.

Establishes perpetuation of traditional Hawaiian crops as a goal of the Hawaii State Planning Act. Requires and appropriates funds for the LUC to create an inventory of taro lands and consult with former members of the Taro Security & Purity Task Force in the creation of the inventory. ($)

RELATING TO THE DHHL

SB1013

RELATING TO DLNR’s CWRM.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chair's designee to the Commission on Water Resource Management. Increases number of commission members from seven to eight, with only five of eight required to have substantial experience in water resource management.

SB1014 SD2

RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL.

Allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to retain independent legal counsel where the opposing party to the reasonably anticipated litigation is the State or another state agency. Provides that fees owed to independent legal counsel shall be paid by the State.

RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF TARO.

SB1499

RELATING TO TARO.

Exempts income derived from the business of taro cultivation or production of taro products from the income tax.

Exempts from the general excise tax the gross proceeds or income received from the sale of any product resulting from the cultivation and production of unprocessed taro

SB1500

RELATING TO TARO LANDS.

Requires DLNR and the Dept of Ag to work with taro farmers to identify taro lands, adjust lease rents, and modify lease qualification criteria. Sunsets in 10 yrs.

SB1501 SD1

RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF TARO LANDS.

Prohibits the BLNR from disturbing or acquiring for development certain wetland taro‑growing lands

SOCIAL WELFARE AND HOMELESS SERVICES SB412

RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Converts the human trafficking victim services fund to a human trafficking reparations fund. Revises the purposes for the monies in the fund to provide direct financial assistance to victims of trafficking.

SB471

RELATING TO LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS.

Prohibits camping in public areas that are not designated as camping locations by the State or a county.

Allows the court to order participation in homeless services in lieu of prosecution or sentencing. Requires the Governor to create safe zones for homeless persons ($)

SB1040 SD2 HD2

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) to establish the Native Hawaiian Supportive Housing Pilot Program on the Leeward Coast of O‘ahu to provide individual or shared micro housing units and services to native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and on the DHHL’s waiting list. ($)

SB1605

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS. Requires the Homeless Programs Office of the Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division of the DHS to establish a program to acquire abandoned and vacant real properties to house individuals experiencing homelessness. ($)

SB1607

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES. Requires a talent agency to provide educational materials regarding sexual harassment prevention, retaliation, & reporting resources and nutrition & eating disorders to adult artists represented by the talent agency. Requires proof of compliance for licensure renewal.

Requires, as a condition for a minor to be employed in theatrical employment, that the minor and the minor's parent or legal guardian receive and complete training regarding sexual harassment prevention, retaliation, and reporting resources and nutrition and eating disorders.

SB1617 SD1

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS. Authorizes the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, in consultation with the DHS and DOH, to establish and administer a Kauhale Program to provide housing units and support services to certain homeless individuals and families. Exempts existing low-income rental units, tiny home villages, and kauhale from certain provisions of the HRS. Authorizes the Governor to transfer by executive order suitable land to HPHA for the construction of kauhale. Appropriates funds & establishes positions for the Kauhale Program. ($)

CARRYOVER BILLS FOR NEXT SESSION (CONTINUED)

FAMILY COURT & HEALTH SB411

SB1043

Requires the court to appoint counsel to indigent parents upon the filing of a petition for custody or family supervision and make every effort to do so at the first hearing attended by the parents.

Decriminalizes and legalizes the personal use, possession, and sale of cannabis in a specified quantity. Entitles persons arrested or convicted of certain marijuana offenses from custody or incarceration. Entitles certain persons to the expungement of their arrest and conviction records, unless the prosecutor can demonstrate good cause against the issuance of an expungement order.

RELATING TO COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS.

SB470

RELATING TO YOUTH FEES AND FINES.

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Prohibits the assessment of any fines, fees, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed prior to the effective date of the Act.

SB1044 SD2 HD2

SB472

Makes permanent the existing exemption for birth attendants to continue to practice without a license, under certain conditions. Expands qualifications for licensure to include the North American Registry of Midwives portfolio evaluation process.

RELATING TO FAMILY COURT.

Requires the family court to amend its rules to require that service upon a party who is not a resident of or found within the island or circuit with jurisdiction over the proceeding may be effectuated by a declaration of the petitioner that states that the petitioner shall abide by the terms of the Hague Service Convention with respect to foreign service of process.

SB1042

RELATING TO CHILD SEARCH AND SEIZURE.

Clarifies the definition of "imminent harm". Requires police officers to comply with exigency requirements when removing a child from the child's home and to promptly submit a police report documenting specific, articulable evidence of imminent harm to the child that warranted the child's immediate removal. Requires the State to provide written notice to a parent of the parent's rights when conducting an investigation of reported child abuse or neglect. Requires police officers to have parental consent, a court order, or evidence of exigent circumstances, when interviewing a child at school or removing the child to protective custody to complete an investigation

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Appropriates funds to hire complex-based licensed behavioral health specialists for Hawaii's rural public schools.($)

SB1047

RELATING TO HRS CHAPTER 457J, (Midwives)

SB1244

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES.

Establishes system access and system integration requirements for the computer software tracking system for medical cannabis dispensaries. Requires the DOH to submit an annual report to the legislature on data captured using the computer software tracking system.

SB1245

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to establish or contract with behavioral health crisis centers to provide intervention and stabilization services in each county for persons experiencing mental health or substance use disorder crises. ($)

SB1041

RELATING TO FAMILY COURT.

Amends provisions relating to criteria and procedures in court determinations regarding custody and visitation rights, including the court's consideration of family violence and domestic abuse.

ENVIRONMENT / EDUCATION / TAXATION SB409 SD1 HD1

SB1045

Appropriates funds to DLNR for the Community Fuels Reduction Project. ($)

Establishes a career and technical education working group to strengthen career and technical education in the State's public schools. Makes an appropriation. ($)

RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION.

SB1012

RELATING TO NATIVE POLLINATORS.

Requires the University of Hawai’i to develop native pollinator habitats to be deployed on all campuses in the University system.

SB1039

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES.

Establishes the Environmental Crimes Unit within the Office of the Attorney General. Makes the disposal of motor vehicle tires in violation of State law governing recovery of used motor vehicle tire recovery a petty demeanor crime. Establishes a $1 motor vehicle tire surcharge to be imposed on every replacement tire installed on a motor vehicle in the State after September 30, 2023. Requires tire retailers and tire wholesalers who install replacement tires to pay the surcharge to the Department of Health, and the Department of Health to deposit the revenues into the Environmental Management Special Fund. Allows the DOH to use the Environmental Management Special Fund to fund the Environmental Crimes Unit. ($)

RELATING TO CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

SB1046 SD2

RELATING TO VEHICLE WEIGHT TAXES.

Amends the vehicle weight tax exemption for noncommercial vehicles by adding veteran exemption.

SB1258 SD2

RELATING TO THE DLNR

Requires the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement a management system for the Kaena point state park, Makua, and Keawaula regions.

SB1480

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Establishes within the Dept of the Attorney General, an Environmental Crimes Unit in cooperative effort with the DOH Health to investigate and prosecute crimes that pose substantial risks to the environment and public health. ($)

SB1606

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a surcharge on the conveyance tax upon the transfer or conveyance of prolonged vacant property.

HAND-UP & HELP OUT FOR EVERYBODY Financial Assistance and Housing Placement Services US VETS Housing Placement Program & Housing First Financial help for rent, utilities, security deposit, etc for civilians and veterans 85-638 Farrington Highway, Waianae 808-348-7422

DHHL Rent Relief Program

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

City Rental & Housing Assistance

Rent, utilities, mortgage, etc. assistance available for people of all ethnic backgrounds

https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/rent-mortgage-relief-funds/

808-596-8155

Catholic Charities Rental and Utility Relief Program https://www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/rental-utility-relief-program/

808-521-4357 Institute for Human Services

Rental Assistance 916 Kaamahu Place A Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

If you are on DHHL’s waitlist, or hold a DHHL Undivided Interest, you may eligible for rental assistance.

https://www.hawaiiancouncil.org/dhhl-rent-relief-program/

American Job Center Network Rent-to-Work Program and Housing Assistance for Kupuna Waianae Neighborhood Community Center 808 768-5701 Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

Rental & Utility Assistance 808-697-3736

Kealahou West Oahu Transitional housing placement and homeless outreach services (808) 696-5667

Phone: 808.447.2840 State of Hawaii Affordable Housing List https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/hhfdc/affordable-housing-inventory/affordable-rental-housing-inventory/ Aloha United Way For more possible rental assistance and social services referrals CALL 211

KOMMUNITY KORNER KOKUA