Conference week ends, district happenings, COVID, education & environment
April 25, 2021
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Coming into the last stretch of the 31st. Legislature: Endless Conference Through Friday!
Conference week is often considered the most volatile period of session– bills are subject to their most critical review from both chambers so that all members can agree on the best version of a bill; bills die when there is not enough time to get that best version.
The final decking deadline for all bills was 6:00 P.M. Friday. Negotiations between the House and Senate were either successful and reported out of committee for final approval by the Legislature next week… or deferred to be worked on in yet another legislative session. Not only getting agreement but the last hurdle was to get committee reports and the final bills signed by the chairs by 11:30 pm. My hardworking staff and I got our last bill (SB1350 which you will hear about) signed at 11:13pm!
For a list of all 215 bills that survived conference and/or passed final reading, click here.
Bills of Interest that Passed:
Increase penalties for crimes against the elderly – House Bill 490enhances penalties for crimes against kupuna. It also lowers the applicable victim’s age of enhanced penalties for the defendant from 62 to 60. The bill went to conference and the committee decided no further amendments were required so the measure is now up for final reading.
Pay disabled minimum wage – This year, I authored and introduced Senate Bill 793 which calls for repealing state law that denies disabled workers minimum wage. In justifying the need for the bill, SB793 explains that “the real problems of disability arise not from the medical conditions themselves, but rather from the low expectations, misinformation, and socially-constructed systemic barriers associated with the conditions.” The passage of this bill could not have been successful without the help of the many supporters, including employers who employ disabled workers. They agree that the disabled deserve to be treated equitably.
Defer pay raises of government officials and legislators and Support Reapportionment Commission in the challenges they face with late US Census data – SB1350 was initially heard by the Government Operations Committee to address the challenges facing the 2021 Reapportionment Commission with the late US Census data being sent to the states and to provide funds for the commission to operate in analyzing the data and creating the district maps for the next election(s). The legislature also agreed that these tough times for everyone especially those without jobs and closed businesses require government officials to defer the pay raises that were set through the State Salary Commission.
The Senate took a brief break on Wednesday to recognize all military-connected children. We wore purple recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child. This month, we join our country in celebrating the resiliency of military-connected children for their tremendous service and sacrifice at home in the U.S. and overseas.
Voting for 2021 Neighborhood Boards begins Monday, April 26
Voting in the Honolulu City’s 2021 Neighborhood Board election is set to begin on Monday, April 26, almost entirely online. Passcodes will be mailed out to eligible voters on April 23, the Friday before the start of voting. Voting period runs from April 26 to May 21. Voters may cast their ballots online at www2.honolulu.gov/nbe from their computers or mobile phones. For more information on how to request a paper ballot or access a public computer for voting, click here. Candidate profiles and photos are posted online, here.
Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board: April 27
Ala Moana Kakaako will hold its April Neighborhood Board meeting via video-teleconference (Zoom) at 6:30P.M. For the agenda, click here.
Video-Teleconference (Zoom): https://tinyurl.com/nb11apr21
Meeting ID: 920 4526 7433 Passcode (login via computer/mobile device): NB11
Passcode (for dial-in only): 026933 Join by Phone: +1-253-215-8782 or +1-346-248-7799. Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/ac13bX5rRE
Waikiki Beach Replenishment Project Reaches Final Stage
The sand replenishment project, which began January 26, is moving into its final stages as a new truck hauling and sand placement schedule begins on April 26. Trucks will be moving sand six days a week from Monday to Saturday, beginning at 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. Contractors estimate the addition of five hours of hauling each day could result in two to three fewer weeks of hauling. The beach will remain open, but the truck haul route along the beach will be closed when in use. For more information on the project, click here.
Arbor Day Event in Waikiki Celebrates Versatile Coconut: April 30, 10am – 3pm
Family-friendly Arbor Day event includes hands-on activities and demonstrations celebrating the niu, or coconut, on Friday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Royal Hawaiian Center has partnered with the University of Hawaii West Oahu and Niu NOW! To hos La Kumula’au Ma Helumoa, a family-friendly Arbor Day event. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cultural demonstration, presentation and hands-on activities centered around the coconut. For event and parking information, email: aloha@festivalcos.com
COVID-19 FUNDING, TESTS & TRAVEL
Restaurant Revitalization Fund
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Eligible entities who have experience pandemic related revenue loss include:
Restaurants
Food stands, food trucks, food carts
Caterers
Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
Bakeries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
Breweries and/or microbreweries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
Wineries and distilleries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
Inns (onsite sales of food and beverage to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products
Longs Drugs to Sell Over the Counter Covid-19 Tests
Longs Drugs this week expects to start selling over the counter Covid-19 tests in Hawaii. It will offer the Abbott antigen self-test for purchase. It has been granted emergency use authorization from the Federal Drug Administration. People do not need a prescription. The test is expected to deliver results in 15 minutes. Register for testing or learn more about the home test kit here.
Inter-Island Travel Vaccination Program Begins May 11
Starting May 11, fully vaccinated passengers who receive their vaccine in the state will be able to travel inter-island without being subject to quarantine and testing rules. This new program will only apply to those who are fully vaccinated and have waited two weeks after their final dose of the vaccine. Travelers will need to fill out the electronic form on the Safe Travels platform, upload a copy of their vaccination card and bring the actual vaccination card, all of which will be checked upon arrival. For more information, click here.
EDUCATION & ENVIRONMENT
New Program Pays Students to Attend EMT school; Applications accepted April 24 – April 29
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services partnered with the University of Hawaii to create a training program to help recruit and retain new candidates. Some say it’s the best way for the city to fill vacancies. Currently, there’s only about 250 people on-staff operating 21-ambulances. The Emergency Medical Technician Academy is actually EMS resuscitating a program that flat-lined about 13-years ago. This time, students are getting paid to go to school. When they’re done, they’re automatically hired. Instruction for most of the program is scheduled to take place at Kapiolani Community College starting this August with 24 students. Last year, EMS hired 18 people. To qualify, a high school diploma, a Hawaii driver’s license and a CPR card are required. If interested individuals do not have CPR card, there are one-day courses available on Oahu. Applicants need take a written math and English test followed by an interview. The program is costing the City and County of Honolulu $60,000. The window to apply is tomorrow, April 24 through April 29. The program is four months and once the first class graduates, the program will be re-evaluated, to see whether or not giving it CPR was the right call. For the job listing, click here and find the “EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN I” listing.
City Releases first-ever Climate Action Plan, Annual Sustainability Report
On Earth Day, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announced the release of the City’s 2021 Annual Sustainability Report and first-ever climate action plan — “One Climate: One O‘ahu.” The climate action plan is a community-driven strategy for Oahu to reduce carbon emissions and uphold the City’s commitment to the Paris climate agreement. There are nine strategies within the plan to reduce emissions — from energy, ground transportation, and waste sectors. Those three areas are said to account for nearly two-thirds of Oahu’s current carbon emissions. The 2021 Annual Sustainability Report tracks progress on sustainability indicators, including waste diversion, renewable energy generation, and transportation affordability. This year’s report showed improvements in water reuse, trees planted, and waste reduction. Click here to review both the 2021 Annual Sustainability Report and the Climate Action Plan.
