20240116-NanakuliNB

SENATOR MAILE SHIMABUKURO 2024 HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE

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

JANURARY 2024

BREAKING NEWS

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

Intermediate School Performing Arts Center • Wai’anae Intermediate

School Covered Playcourt • 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.

DHS Expands Preschool “Open Doors Program” The Department of Human Services (DHS) is expanding the Preschool Open Doors Program to eligible 3-year-olds and helping families better afford preschool for the 2024-2025 school year with increased gross income eligibility limits.

Families that may have been over income in previous years may now qualify if they have eligible 3- or 4-year-old children and need help with preschool tuition.

APPLICATION PERIOD from Jan 16th to Mar 28th, 2024 Application also involves Child Care Subsidy Programs https://childcaresubsidyapplication.dhs.hawaii.gov/ <APPLY RIGHT NOW>

CURRENT LEGISLATION FOR INTRODUCTION THIS 2024 SESSION

HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS / EDUCATION RELATING TO OIA SCHOOL SURF COMPETITION (SMA-0275) Establishes and provides funding for school athletic surfing competition within the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) RELATING TO WAI‘ANAE HIGH SCHOOL HATCHERY BILL (HMSO-0409) Establishes, funds, and supports a fish loko i‘a program at WHS INCENTIVIZE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE Incentivize the hiring of fluent speakers of ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i in public and private positions and in educational settings RELATING TO WAIANAE MOKU EDUCATION Allow additional funding for the Wai‘anae Moku Access to Education (ATE) Program at Leeward Community College on O’ahu

RELATING TO DHHL WAITLIST COMPENSATION Allows DHHL to provide a cash award amount to beneficiaries on their waitlist, for the purpose of purchasing residential lots located outside of DHHL's trust lands after which, the beneficiary would be removed from the waitlist.

RELATING TO DHHL PAPER LEASES FOR WAITLISTERS Allows for waitlisted beneficiaries who are elderly & disabled to receive a paper lease RELATING TO QUALIFIED DESCENDANTS OF DHHL WAITLISTERS Allows successors of deceased waitlist beneficiaries to assume place on waiting list RELATING TO BURIAL COUNCILS - Mandates that alleged violators must appear in court - Elevates certain misdemeanor offenses into felonies, & clarifies definitions RELATING TO UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS Provides universal free breakfast and lunch for all public-school students RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION (HMSO- 0242) Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to strengthen student transportation services for Hawaii's public school system.

RELATING TO TEACHERS (HSMO-0434) Increases the bonus for teachers who achieve and maintain a current national board certification from $5,000 to $15,000.

CURRENT LEGISLATION FOR INTRODUCTION THIS 2024 SESSION (continued)

JUDICIARY / SALARY JUDICIAL RETIREMENT AGE INCREASE (LRB-0129) Proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges from 70 to 75 years.

RELATING TO ADULT SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIORS The Adult Survivors Right Act creates a one-time, one-year lookback window for adult sexual assault survivors who are outside the statute of limitations.

RELATING TO YOUTH FEES AND FINES (SMA-470) 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. RELATING TO MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS Amends the law so that only moving violations resulting in convictions appear on traffic abstracts. $100,000 funding RELATING TO WINDSHIELD TINTING (HMSO-0633) Lowers the level of light transmittance allowed on sun screening glazing on motor vehicle windows from 35% to 25%.

RELATING TO EVICTION CLARIFICATION Specifies that an eviction is defined as the forcible removal of a tenant via a court order. This is being clarified so that vulnerable people could unjustly lose access to low income housing when authorities misinterpret the law.

RELATING TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX (SMA-0221) Taxes capital gains income at the same rate as ordinary income.

EMERGENCY SERVICES RELATING TO FIRST RESPONDERS (HMSO-0260) Requires the State to share in the cost of county first responder personnel fulfilling state-imposed new mandates or increases in the level of service under existing programs.

RELATING TO STATE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU Establishes State Fire Prevention Bureau with State Fire Chief authorized to issue citations and remove fire risks on state land.

CURRENT LEGISLATION FOR INTRODUCTION THIS 2024 SESSION (continued)

HISTORIC PRESERVATION RELATING HISTORIC PRESERVATION (SMA-0170) Clarifies that the Governor may waive historic preservation requirements in an emergency proclamation only when there is an imminent or presently occurring emergency which threatens health and safety.

INCREASING DAGS HISTORIC PRESERVATION STAFF Add four in-house archeologist positions and one historic preservation position

HEALTH / ENVIRONMENT RELATING TO WATER QUALITY (SMA-0162) Requires the Department of Health to require continued water testing during brown water advisories under certain circumstances.

GUN THREAT IN HEALTHCARE Increase the penalties for those who are convicted of threatening any healthcare worker with a firearm RELATING TO DEBRIS RECYCLING (SMA-0226) Requires recycling of construction and demolition materials and use of recycled materials to factor into priority offeror selections for competitive procurement of construction or demolition services by the State or any county.

RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION CODE (SMA-0229) Requires the state building code to incorporate the international green construction code. Sets specified targets for recycling, reuse, donation, and resale of non hazardous construction waste.

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