COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Thursday, February 3, 2000
2:00 p.m.
State Capitol, Conference Room 329

AGENDA:

HB 2388       RELATING TO EDUCATION.                                     EDN,JHA
              Includes  under  the  department  of  education's  zero  tolerance
              policy,  selling,  consuming,   and   using  a  dangerous  weapon,
              switchblade knife, intoxicating  liquor,  or  illicit drugs during
              school hours, on school  premises, or during department-supervised
              activities on off school property.
HB 2041       RELATING TO COMPUTER ACCESS BY MINORS.                 EDN,JHA,FIN
              Limits children's access to  on-line pornography in public schools
              and public libraries.
HB 2042       RELATING TO PORNOGRAPHY.                                   EDN,JHA
              Repeals the promoting pornography  for minors exemption for public
              library staff.
HB 2092       RELATING TO EDUCATION.                                     EDN,FIN
              Allows high school  students  to  obtain  college  and high school
              course credits simultaneously.
HB 2036       RELATING TO EDUCATION.                                     EDN,FIN
              Requires funding for athletic  programs  to be considered standard
              workload  increase  items  when  planning  and  budgeting  for new
              schools.  Requires the DOE  to  study the issue of paying athletic
              coaches salaries in the same manner as other teachers.
HB 2096       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EDUCATION.                     EDN,FIN
              Appropriates  funds  for  additional  teachers  to  recognize that
              special needs children are being placed in regular classrooms.
HB 2097       RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION.                      EDN,LAB/FIN
              Requires teachers  to  receive  their  normal  annual increment or
              longevity increase, as the case  may be, for a year's satisfactory
              service in any fiscal  year  that  an  increase in the appropriate
              salary schedule is effected, except as provided by law.
HB 2094       RELATING TO REHIRING RETIRED TEACHERS IN               EDN,LAB/FIN
              THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
              Permits the DOE to rehire retired teachers for 1 school year while
              allowing them to receive retirement  benefits on a temporary full-
              time basis in declared shortage areas.
HB 1986       RELATING TO ASSAULT IN THE SECOND DEGREE.                  EDN,JHA
              Expands the scope  of  assault  in  the  second  degree to include
              within the definition of  "educational  worker"  any person who is
              employed by the department of education on a contractual basis for
              a school  program,  activity,  or  function  that  is established,
              sanctioned, or approved by the department of education.

 
                                       A
 
 
HB 2098       RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY.                              EDN,JHA
              Requires private schools, in  cooperation with the Hawaii criminal
              justice data center, to  conduct criminal history verifications of
              applicants  for  employment   in   positions  necessitating  close
              proximity to children.
HB 1886       RELATING TO SCHOOL RECORDS.                                EDN,JHA
              Adds a new section  providing  protection  from suit to any school
              for disclosure of  records  for  any  action  of  a  child that is
              detrimental to the morals or discipline of a school.
HB 2093       RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.                                 EDN,JHA
              Requires courts  to  inform  school  when  adverse  disposition or
              adjudication against  minor  is  entered;  requires  principals to
              inform school staff of  adverse  disposition  or adjudication of a
              student; requires school employees to report on campus felonies.

Decision making to follow.


COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY & HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

Thursday, February 3, 2000
2:00 p.m.
State Capitol, Conference Room 325

AGENDA:

HB 503        RELATING TO COURTS.                                        JHA,FIN
              Exempts from jury service  persons  who  live great distances from
              the court for which jury service is required.
HB 1804       RELATING TO FALSE CLAIMS.                                  JHA,FIN
              Establishes a False Claims Act against the government.
HB 1939       RELATING TO KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION.           JHA,FIN
              Allows  Kahoolawe  Island  Reserve  Commission  to  hire  its  own
              attorney.
HB 1943       RELATING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.                          JHA,FIN
              Establishes  an  impact  litigation  unit  in  the  office  of the
              Attorney General.
HB 1940       RELATING TO COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL LEGAL FEES.            JHA,FIN
              Increases  fees   for   court   appointed   attorneys   for  legal
              representation of criminal indigent defendants.
HB 2299       RELATING TO INTEREST.                                          JHA
              Clarifies post-judgment interest statute.
HB 2344       RELATING TO ATTORNEYS' FEES.                                   JHA
              Removes  from  the  statutory  section  governing  limitations  on
              attorneys'  fees  in  actions  in  the  nature  of  assumpsit, the
              provision that the  section  shall  not  apply  to the recovery of
              reasonable attorneys' fees by  a planned community association, or
              to the right of a  prevailing  party to recover fees exceeding 25%
              of the judgment if specifically provided for by statute.

 
                                       B
 
 
HB 2213       RELATING TO BINDING ARBITRATION AWARDS.                        JHA
              Limits collection  of  any  arbitration  award  to  the applicable
              liability policy limit.
HB 2410       RELATING TO THE RELIEF OF CERTAIN PERSONS'                 JHA,FIN
              CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE AND PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR.
              Provides for the payment of  claims  against the State for refunds
              of  taxes,  for   judgments   and   settlements,   and  for  other
              miscellaneous payments.
HB 2620       RELATING TO THE RELIEF OF CERTAIN PERSONS'                 JHA,FIN
              CLAIMS   AGAINST   THE   UNIVERSITY   OF   HAWAII   AND  PROVIDING
              APPROPRIATIONS THERFOR.
              Appropriates funds for the payment  of settlements entered into by
              the University of Hawaii.

Decision making to follow.


COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION AND COMMERCE

Thursday, February 3, 2000
6:00 p.m.
State Capitol, Conference Room 325

AGENDA:

HB 2465       RELATING TO THE CODE OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.            CPC,FIN
              Amends and corrects  certain  sections  of  the  Code of Financial
              Institutions, chapter 412.
HB 2467       RELATING TO THE CONSUMER ADVOCATE.                         CPC,FIN
              Allows the division of consumer advocacy to retain legal counsel.
HB 2469       RELATING TO SUBPOENAS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT             CPC,FIN
              OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.
              Establishes a  rate  of  reimbursement  to  be  paid  to financial
              institutions for  searching,  reproducing,  or transporting books,
              papers, documents, or other objects designated by in a subpoena.
HB 2472       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                     CPC,FIN
              Defines  a  stock  insurer.    Specifies  that  an  appointment is
              required from  the  insurer  whose  policies  are being solicited,
              applications taken for, or sold.  Mandates notices of cancellation
              and nonrenewal for insurance policies.
HB 2314       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                         CPC
              Includes as  unfair  or  deceptive  practice  that  of refusing to
              provide past  or  future  coverage  or  limiting  claim.   Exempts
              reimbursement of  past  benefits  where  damages  are recovered or
              where there is reimbursement  or subrogation otherwise provided by
              law.

 
                                       C
 
 
 
 
 
HB 2473       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                         CPC
              Consolidates laws and rules governing insurance.
HB 2474       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                         CPC
              Requires  persons  convicted  of   felony  offenses  to  seek  the
              Insurance Commissioner's written  consent  before  engaging in the
              business of insurance.
HB 2487       RELATING TO FINANCING THE HAWAII HURRICANE RELIEF          CPC,FIN
              FUND.
              Allows the use  of  revenue  bonds  to  finance  claims made under
              insurance policies of the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund.
HB 2475       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                         CPC
              Requires  HMOs  and  mutual  benefit  societies  to  file  audited
              statements on  a  timely  basis  in  accordance  with the National
              Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) standards.
HB 2476       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                         CPC
              Creates  a  uniform   reference   to  the  "workers'  compensation
              supplemental medical fee schedule".    Establishes a limitation on
              the cost for an independent medical examination.
HB 2477       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                         CPC
              Prohibits viadication of life  insurance policies or certificates.
              Provides a legal framework to regulate accelerated death benefits.
HB 2478       RELATING TO INSURANCE.                                         CPC
              Establishes standards  for  life  insurance  policy illustrations.
              Regulates the activities of insurers and producers with respect to
              replacement of existing life insurance policies and annuities.
HB 2902       RELATING TO INSURERS.                                      CPC,JHA
              Requires insurers  to  maintain  a  claims  service  office in the
              State.  Exempts individuals domiciled  in the State and performing
              certain insurance-related services from the licensure requirements
              for adjusters.
HB 2897       RELATING TO CONSUMER COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.             CPC,FIN
              Exempts  consumer  cooperative  associations  from  certain taxes.
              Makes the same laws and fees applicable to both stock and nonstock
              consumer cooperative associations.  Shortens the filing period and
              requires specific information to  be  included in an association's
              annual report.
HB 2603       RELATING TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY TAX.                    CPC,FIN
              Clarifies that  the  statutory  imposition  of  the public service
              company tax on public utilities is not a real property tax.
HB 3009       RELATING TO THE HAWAII INSURANCE EXCHANGE.             CPC,LAB/FIN
              Establishes a  plan  for  the  formation  and  implementation of a
              captive   insurance   facility    to    effectively   manage   the
              administration and financing of  the  current and potential future
              employee benefit obligations of  the state and county governments.
              Replaces the Hawaii Public  Employees  Health Fund with the Hawaii
              Insurance Exchange to provide employee benefits.

Decision making to follow.



 
                                       D
 
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Friday, February 4, 2000
8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Conference Room 325

AGENDA:

AGR/PSM only:
HB 1889       RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS.                   AGR/PSM,FIN
              Provides  a  fee  discount  for  state-required  animal quarantine
              charges for active duty military personnel.

AGR ONLY only:
HB 1310       RELATING TO THE PRIVATIZATION OF ANIMAL                    AGR,FIN
              QUARANTINE.
              Amends chapter 142  to  require  the  department of agriculture to
              contract with a qualified, private entity to perform the functions
              of quarantine of dogs, cats, and other animals.  Requires that one
              of the criteria that shall  be  used is whether the private entity
              is sensitive to the needs and  proper care of the animals, and has
              a proven track record in  the  daily management of veterinary care
              of cats, dogs, and other animals.
HB 1993       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR PINEAPPLE                      AGR,FIN
              RESEARCH.
              Appropriates funds to  support  pineapple  research  projects that
              focus on pervasive threats to Hawaii's pineapple industry.
HB 2799       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AQUACULTURE                AGR,FIN
              DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM.
              Appropriates funds for the aquaculture disease prevention program.
HB 2801       RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.                                   AGR,FIN
              Establishes  a  voluntary  porcine  respiratory  and  reproductive
              syndrome  (PRRS)  certification   programs,  including  developing
              voluntary PRRS herd certification standards.  Appropriates funds.
HB 2973       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR MICONIA ERADICATION.           AGR,FIN
              Appropriates funds  for  miconia  eradication  in  the counties of
              Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui.
HB 2996       RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS.                            AGR,FIN
              Provides  agricultural  loans   to  qualified  part-time  farmers.
              Reduces the state  residency  requirements  for permanent resident
              aliens  seeking  financing  under  the  State's  agricultural loan
              program.
HB 2997       RELATING TO AQUACULTURE LOANS.                             AGR,FIN
              Increases the maximum amount of  moneys that applicants may borrow
              for class A  loans  (aquaculture  farm  ownership and improvements
              loans,) and class C loans (aquaculture cooperative and corporation
              loans.)  Extends the loan  term  for  class  C loans from three to
              seven years.

 
                                       E
 
 
 
HB 2998       RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.                           AGR,EDB/CPC,FIN
              Requires the government to show  whether its decisions will impact
              agricultural operations rather than have  the burden on farmers to
              show that their operations are not a nuisance to others.
HB 2999       RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO FARM.                             AGR,JHA
              Grandfathers in an  non-nuisances  farming operations that existed
              prior to the establishment of surrounding non-farming operations.

Decision making to follow.


COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT

Friday, February 4, 2000
8:30 a.m. - 11:30  a.m.
State Capitol, Conference Room 309

AGENDA:

HB 2520       RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.                         LAB,FIN
              Provides alternatives  to  injured  employees  who  are  trying to
              restore their earning capacities,  and  to  set parameters for the
              utilization of rehabilitation services.
HB 2001       RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.                     LAB,CPC,FIN
              Amends workers  compensation  laws  regarding  independent medical
              examinations by requiring  employer requested medical examinations
              to be done by a  State-licensed  experienced physician of the same
              specialty as the treating physician.
HB 2389       RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.                     LAB,CPC,FIN
              Amends workers'  compensation  laws  regarding independent medical
              examinations so  as  to  promote  the  quality  of the examination
              reports and the quality of services.
HB 2214       RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE LAW.                   LAB,CPC
              Caps medical  fees  for  independent  medical  examinations in the
              motor vehicle insurance  law  at  $400  rather  than at the charge
              levels set under the workers' compensation fee schedules.
HB 2123       RELATING TO WAGES AND TIPS OF EMPLOYEES.                   LAB,FIN
              Protects employees who receive  or  may receive tips or gratuities
              during the course of employment from having these amounts withheld
              or credited to their employers.
HB 2171       RELATING TO MEAL BREAKS.                                   LAB,FIN
              Requires employers to  provide  meal  breaks  after  five hours of
              work.
HB 2726       RELATING TO REGISTRARS FOR ADULT COMMUNITY                 LAB,FIN
              SCHOOLS.
              Provides civil service status  for  registrars  at the Maui, Kona,
              and Kauai Community Schools for Adults.

 
                                       F
 
 
 
 
HB 1832       RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION.                     LAB,JHA
              Makes it an unlawful  discriminatory  practice  for an employer to
              condition employment or hiring  upon the employee's relinquishment
              of the right to  initiate  or  participate  in an investigation or
              proceeding under the  civil  rights  commission  law, or any other
              right under that law or the unlawful employment practices law.
HB 1833       RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES AND              LAB,FIN
              EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.
              Establishes a four-year pilot  project  in the executive branch to
              promote fair pay.
HB 101        RELATING TO BUYBACK OF EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT               LAB,FIN
              SYSTEM MEMBERSHIP SERVICE CREDIT.
              Allows a retired  ERS  member  who  was  on  temporary loan to the
              civilian defense agency in  1942 for fingerprint classification to
              buy back membership  service  credit  at  the rate of compensation
              before retirement and application before 12/31/97.

Decision making to follow.


COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND HOUSING

Friday, February 4, 2000
9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
State Capitol, Conference Room 329

AGENDA:

HB 2107       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE.          HSH,FIN
              Makes an  unspecified  appropriation  for  the  neighborhood place
              program of the  DHS  for  diversion  services and child protective
              services.
HB 2273       RELATING TO THE HAWAII CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND.              HSH,FIN
              Requires  the  Department  of   Budget  and  Finance  to  dedicate
              unspecified percentages of  the  amount  in  the general fund each
              year for five years to  the  Hawaiian Children's Trust Fund, to be
              matched on a 50% basis.
HB 2912       CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP)                 HSH,FIN
              APPROPRIATION FOR FY 2000-01.
              Makes appropriation for CHIP for FY2000-01.
HB 2510       RELATING TO FOSTER BOARD ALLOWANCES FOR                HSH,LAB/FIN
              STUDENTS.
              Allows the  payment  of  foster  board  allowances  directly to an
              accredited institution of higher learning.
HB 2509       RELATING TO KINSHIP CARE.                                  HSH,FIN
              Defines  "kinship  care."    Authorizes  the  Department  of human
              services to develop standards  for  kinship  care apart from other
              foster care standards.

 
                                       G
 
 
 
HB 3022       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR CHILD CARE                     HSH,FIN
              CERTIFICATION.
              Appropriates funds  to  provide  mothers  on  public assistance to
              receive child care certification.
HB 2626       RELATING TO CHILD CARE.                                    HSH,CPC
              Authorizes family child care homes  and  group child care homes to
              care for up to two  additional  children  5 years of age and older
              who are  students  at  a  year-round  school  during  the school's
              intersession and waiver days.

Decision making to follow.


COMMITTEE ON WATER AND LAND USE

Friday February 4, 2000
9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Conference Room 312

AGENDA:

HB 2743       RELATING TO LAND USE.                                      WLU,FIN
              Prohibits the land  use  commission  and  the county zoning agency
              from imposing a  condition  on  an  application  where the area of
              concern covered  by  the  condition  was  addressed  by  the other
              agency.
HB 1901       RELATING TO STATE PARKS.                               WLU,LAB/FIN
              Provides for the privatization  of  state park services, including
              operation, maintenance,  administration,  and  management, through
              competitive contracting between  private companies, the department
              of land and natural resources, and other governmental entities, on
              a park-by-park basis.
HB 2309       RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGE IN NORTH KONA, HAWAII.           WLU,FIN
              Allows the exchange of private  and  public lands located in North
              Kona, Hawaii.
HB 2236       RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.                                  WLU,FIN
              Adds condition to leases of state  lands to require lessees to pay
              monthly amounts to a  reserve  account  to  pay for cleaning up of
              pollution of leased land upon  expiration or termination of lease.
              Provides for return of moneys if cleanup is not needed.
HB 2807       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A WAIALUA-HALEIWA              WLU,FIN
              STORMWATER DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN.
              Appropriates $500,000  for  a  Waialua-Haleiwa stormwater drainage
              master plan.
HB 2893       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PROVIDE DATA                    WLU,FIN
              FOR HYDRAULIC AND HYDROLOGIC FLOOD ANALYSIS.
              Appropriates $75,000 to the DLNR for the engineering branch of the
              land  division  to  partly   fund   the  continued  operation  and
              maintenance of streamflow and crest-stage gaging stations with the
              United States Geological Survey, to provide data for hydraulic and
              hydrologic flood analyses.

 
                                       H
HB 2263       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO MATCH FEDERAL                   WLU,FIN
              FUNDS FOR THE HAWAII FORESTRY AND COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE.
              Appropriates $100,000 if matching federal funds are made available
              by DLNR for the Hawaii forestry and communities initiative.
HB 2871       MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE HAWAII                     WLU,FIN
              FORESTRY AND COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE.
              Appropriates  funds  for  the   Hawaii  forestry  and  communities
              initiative, provided that  the  funds  are  matched by the private
              sector.
HB 2835       RELATING TO WATERSHED PROTECTION.                          WLU,FIN
              Establishes a watershed protection  trust  fund to fund public and
              private watershed  management  projects  benefiting water quality;
              water quantity,  and  general  watershed  values within designated
              watershed areas.  Establishes a review board to identify watershed
              management areas.  Imposes a watershed protection tax.
HB 2836       RELATING TO CONVEYANCE TAX.                                WLU,FIN
              Broadens the use of  the  natural  area  reserve fund by including
              watershed management.
HB 2576       RELATING TO THE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FUND.            WLU,FIN
              Establishes a water resource management fund within DLNR.
HB 1902       RELATING TO THE STATE WATER CODE.                          WLU,FIN
              Allows the commission on water resource management, as a condition
              for issuing use  permits  pursuant  to  the  State  Water Code, to
              require the use of  dual  line  water supply systems (which supply
              potable and nonpotable  water)  in  new  industrial and commercial
              developments located in designated water management areas.
HB 2575       RELATING TO DISPOSITION OF WATER RIGHTS.                   WLU,FIN
              Allows for the disposition of  water rights by direct negotiation,
              in addition to public  auction.    Authorizes  the Board to extend
              month-to-month water permits for additional one-year periods.
HB 2917       RELATING TO HAWAIIAN TERMINOLOGY.                          WLU,FIN
              Requires the use  of  Hawaiian  names,  terms,  and phrases in the
              Kalaeloa community development district.

Decision making to follow.

 
                                       I