Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs Feed

Informational Briefing: Lawmakers to get update on aerospace programs

The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, headed by chair Sen. Will Espero, has scheduled an informational briefing to get an update on key initiatives in Hawaii's growing aerospace industry. The briefing will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in conference room 229 at the Hawaii State Capitol.

"Aerospace can be a dynamic industry in Hawaii with the potential to diversify our economy and create high-paying jobs for residents," said Sen. Espero. "There are many aspects to the industry, from research and development in planetary geosciences to global climate monitoring and even space tourism."

Guest speakers include:
Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) - Dr. Luke Flynn, Director, HSFL
Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) - Dr. Kim Binsted, Principal Investigator, HI-SEAS
Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) - Robert Kelso, Executive Director, PISCES
Starlight Reserve Initiative - Dr. Richard Wainscoat, Chairman, Hawaii Starlight Reserve Committee
Hawaii Commercial Spaceport License and Space Tourism - Brian Gulliver, Principal Investigator, RS&H
Pan Pacific UAV Test Range Complex - Ro Bailey, Deputy Director, Alaska Center for UAS Integration

View the hearing notice

INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON DOMESTICE VIOLENCE: LAWMAKERS TO HEAR FROM HONOLULU POLICE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDERS

State lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives have scheduled an informational briefing to hear from the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) and various social service providers on domestic violence in Hawaii, how HPD responds to domestic violence calls, and any suggestions for improvement. The briefing is an opportunity for lawmakers to gather information following a high-profile domestic violence case involving one of its officers.

The briefing, held by the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and the House Committee on Public Safety, will be on Tuesday, September 30 at 10 a.m. at the State Capitol in Room 309. Click here to view the briefing notice.

"We're holding this briefing because concerns were raised by many lawmakers about the policies and procedures in place when officers respond to domestic violence calls," said Sen. Will Espero (D-19 Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of Ewa Villages), chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs. "This will give us and the public an opportunity to address these issues and put domestic violence front-and-center on everyone's radar. We're making this a priority, and I see this briefing as just another step in affecting real change to help protect victims of domestic violence."

Representative Henry Aquino (D-38 Waipahu), chairman of the House Committee on Public Safety, noted that the tragedy of domestic violence has recently captured the national and local news headlines spotlighting that the issue has no economic, educational or cultural boundaries.

"This informational hearing will allow us to hear from experts on domestic violence, separate the myths from facts, and gain information on policies and procedures by law enforcement

SENATE TO HOLD AN INFORMATIONAL HEARING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CANCELLATION OF INMATE VISITS DUE TO LACK OF STAFF

Senator Will Espero, chairman of the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PSM) Committee, will hold a public informational hearing to learn more about recent cancellations of family visitations in the prison system.

The Senate has invited representatives from the Department of Public Safety to answer questions about the problem of family visitation cancellations at our prisons and jails.

"This is a problem that has been on-going for years. We hope to get more information on the frequency of visitor cancellations over the years due to understaffing and what is being done to remedy it," Senator Espero stated.

The United Public Workers Union and families impacted by the cancellations have been invited to speak.

The hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in conference room 224 at the Hawaii State Capitol.

For more information, please call the office of Senator Will Espero at 808-586-6360.

Click here to view the informational briefing notice.

SENATE AND HOUSE LAWMAKERS TO RECEIVE UPDATE ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS

What:    Joint Senate-House informational briefing on affordable housing in Hawaii. The committees will hear from representative from various housing agencies to get an update on the affordable housing projects that have been completed, are presently underway and are planned for the future.

When:   Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Where:   Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 325

Who:   Senate Committee on Human Services; Senate Committee on Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing; Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs; and House Committee on Housing.

Committees will hear from: the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA); the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC); the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL); the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA); and the Department of Defense (DOD)

Other agencies invited to participate include: the City and County of Honolulu, Office Housing; the County of Hawaii, Office of Housing and Community Development, the County of Maui, Department of Housing and Human Concerns, and the County of Kauai, Housing Agency.

View the briefing notice.

SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE DEFERS BILL LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

ADVANCES BILLS DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA, PROVIDING MEDICAL AMNESTY FOR CALLING 911 FOR OVERDOSE EMERGENCY

The Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee today deferred Senate Bill 2733, a bill that would have legalized marijuana in Hawaii.

"We felt Hawaii was not ready for legalization at this time," said Espero. "With the passage of legalization bills in Colorado and Washington, however, these states will be test sites to see how legalization impacts the states and their residents."

Another measure, Senate Bill 2358, which would decriminalize marijuana, was passed unanimously and will now go to the Judiciary and Labor Committee. First time offense would be a $100 fine; second offense $250; three or more $500. No prison time would be involved.

The committee also advanced Senate Bill 2215, which would provide medical amnesty for those who call 911 when someone is overdosing. "Many Hawaii residents have died because people are afraid to call for help when they are with someone overdosing. This measure is a good Samaritan bill that gives limited immunity to those who seek medical assistance," said Espero.