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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0873.001 2012-2014 DENNIS "FRESH"ONISHI x �'• PHONE: (808)961-8396 �•••" FAX: (808)961-8912 Council Member • ,a,, •' � %% ��'*' TMAIL:donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us District 3 HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY CLERK 25 Aupuni Street,Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 COUNTY OF EAWAIVI RECEIVED Time 4:ISa.m. Byi Date MEMORANDUM s-12-1y DATE: May 12, 2014 TO: J Yoshimoto, Chair And Members of the Hawai`i County Council 6)�f-roc FROM: Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Council Member SUBJECT: Communication No. 873: Discussion regarding legislation important to Hawai`i County. Attached is a copy of the handout that was given to members of the Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee at its meeting on May 12, 2014. DO:ps Att. Comm.No, . 73. 1 Ref.To P/4RE,OG Ref.Date MAY 1 2 2014 Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. May 12, 2014 2014 Legislative Session wrap Notes "Subject" is taken from the title of the resolution "Request" is taken from the original language of a bill, or of a Council resolution "Result" means what the Legislature decided. Governor can still veto bills or decide not to fund CIP requests. HSAC Package—Beach liability Request: (1) Make permanent the civil liability protection for County lifeguards (2) Make permanent the civil liability protection for government agencies regarding their duty to warn of dangers on improved public lands Result: (1) HB 1024 extends by three years (until 2017) the civil liability protection for County lifeguards (2) SB 1007 makes permanent the civil liability protection for warning signs for outdoor recreation on public lands. HSAC Package—Roads in Limbo Request: Allow the counties and the state to maintain roads whose ownership is in dispute without incurring liability. Result: Not approved. HB 1610 was deferred in the House Transportation Committee and its companion bill SB 2109 did not get a hearing in the Senate. HSAC Package—HHSC rural residency Request: $2.8 million to fund the Hawai`i Island Family Medicine Residency Program. Result: $2 million in general funds approved for FY 2015 in the state budget. (HB 1700) HSAC—GET surcharge Request: Allow the counties to establish up to a 1 percent surcharge on state tax. Other than Honolulu, where the use is dedicated for rail, counties could use this money for any purpose. Result: Not approved. HB 1606 and SB 2115 were referred to their respective committees but were never scheduled for a hearing. Reso: 133-13 Introducer: Kern Subject: Urging National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) and the Legislature to assist in creating a safe swim area near the Pohoiki Boat Ramp in the District of Puna and to provide funding for a feasibility study. Request: NOAA and Legislature are urged to work with County to fund and to undertake a feasibility study for the creation of a safe swim area in Puna. Result: Not approved. HB 2552 passed the House but did not receive a vote in the Senate. Would have directed DLNR to study Pohoiki Bay and Keauhou Bay to resolve conflicts among the users of the bay. Reso: 160-13 Introducer: Yoshimoto Subject: Urging the Legislature and the Governor to restore the counties' share of 44.8 percent of the TAT revenues. Request: Allow the counties to have a 44.8 percent cut of the TAT, which would result in(using FY 13 revenue) $165 million to the counties, and an $30.7 million to Hawai`i County, or an increase of$13.4 million. Result: Increases the total cap on all counties from $93 million to $103 million. TAT revenue for Hawai`i County increases from $17,298,000 to $19,158,000, an increase of$1,860,000 for FY 15. HB 1671 Reso: 170-13 Introducer: Yoshimoto Subject: Urging the Legislature to support and provide funding for the highest priority capital improvement projects in Hawai`i County Request: 1. Nani Kailua Extension—$3.5 million 2. Laupahoehoe Point Access Road— $3.5 million 3. Isaac K. Hale Beach Park Expansion— $12 million 4. Ane Keohokalole Highway Extension— $50 million 5. Kuauli Road Traffic Improvements— $1 million. 6. Regional Transit Hub in Waimea- $10 million. 7. Kupulau Street Extension—$3.6 million. 8. South Kona Police Station—$7 million. Result: No bill. No funding. Reso: 272-14 Introducer: Wille Subject: Proposing a state bill relating to the counties' authority to regulate the cultivation and development of GMO crops and plants and associated pesticides Request: Allow GMO cross-contamination to be declared a nuisance subject to civil claims. Result: No bill. Reso: 277-14 Introducer: Poindexter Subject: Urges Hawai`i Department of Transportation to provide matching funds for a parking lot and student drop off/pick up facility at Honoka`a Elementary. Request: HDOT and Public Works are urged to work together to provide matching funds for the facility. Result: $2 million capital improvement project authorized in state budget for plans ($1,000), designs ($1,000) and construction ($1,998,000). Reso: 284-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: Pass House Bill 1671, which will increase transient accommodations tax revenue to the counties. Request: Allow the counties to have a 44.8 percent cut of the TAT, which would result in (using FY 13 revenue) $165 million to the counties, and an $30.7 million to Hawai`i County, or an increase of$13.4 million. Result: Increases the total cap on all counties from $93 million to $103 million. TAT revenue for Hawai`i County increases from $17,298,000 to $19,158,000, an increase of$1,860,000 for FY 15. (HB 1671) Reso: 286-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: Pass bills (SB 2920 and HB 2469) to address the threat of the little fire ant. Request: $306,237 to Parks and Recreation to establish a LFA pilot project, and for hiring of personnel, purchasing of pesticides and equipment. Result: Not funded. SB 2920 passed the House and the Senate but died in conference committee. Another bill, HB 1716, appropriated $5 million to the Hawai`i Invasive Species Council for competitive grants. Parks and Recreation will be applying for funding. Reso: 287-14 Introducer: Ilagan Subject: Pass SB 3067, which will appropriate funds for a feasibility study for a regional library in Puna Request: $350,000 for a feasibility study for the library. Result: $800,000 in State Budget approved to plan ($250K) and design ($550K) a new regional library in Pahoa. House Bill 1700. Reso: 288-14 Introducer: Ilagan Subject: Pass bills (HB 1722, HB 2360, SB 2348)that appropriate funds to augment emergency medical services in Hawai`i County. Request: • Appropriate an unspecified sum for advanced life support ambulances in Puna and Makalei (HB 1722, SB 2348) • The same as above, but for one ambulance in Puna only (HB 2360) Result: Not approved. SB 2348 passed the Senate and House but stalled in conference committee. Reso: 289-14 Introducer: Ilagan Subject: Pass bills (SB 2941, HB 2521) to appropriate funds to manage hazardous trees. Request: • $5 million in SB 2941 for albizia control along critical emergency medical service transit routes in Hilo and Puna. • Unspecified sum in HB 2521 for removal of dangerous trees statewide. Result: Not approved. HB 2521 passed the House and the Senate but stalled in conference committee. Reso: 292-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: Pass bills (SB 2401, HB 1570) to increase the 48-hour separation period. Result: Not approved. HB 1570 passed the House but stalled in a Senate committee. Reso: 298-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: Pass bill (SB 879) to increase the per diem stipend for witnesses in criminal cases. Request: Per diem witness stipend has not increased since 1989. SB 879 would increase out of state witness per diem from $110 to $145 and from $55 to $145 provided the witness is traveling interisland and is required to stay overnight. Result: Increase in per diem to $145 was approved through HB 238. Reso: 299-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: PISCES: Pass bills to fund a partnership with the State of California to research planetary sustainability technologies. Request: $250,000 to support planetary sustainability technologies, provided that California appropriates dollar-for-dollar matching funds. (HB 2150, SB 2584) Result: Not approved. HB 2150 passed the House and the Senate but stalled in conference committee. Reso: 300-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: PISCES: Pass bills to fund joint studies with NASA for a laser communications ground station on Mauna Loa. Request: $500,000 for a joint NASA/PISCES engineering assessment and study, provided NASA gives a dollar-for-dollar matching amount. (SB 2583, HB 2151) Result: $250,000 approved for a joint NASA/PISCES study, provided NASA gives a dollar-for-dollar matching amount. Reso: 301-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: PISCES: Pass bills to fund the operating budget and to authorize the issuance of general authorization bonds for a headquarters facility. Request: $1,375,738 for the PISCES operations and strategic initiatives; $1,500,000 bond authorization for a headquarters facility. Result: $500,000 approved to fund the operations of PISCES in FY 15, but the conference committee removed language authorizing the bond float for the headquarters facility. Reso: 307-14 Introducer: Onishi Subject: Fund the construction of the UH-Hilo College of Pharmacy building. Request: Fund the building and do it through the Governor's budget. Result: $33 million approved for construction in the state budget. $28 million in government obligation bonds and $5 million in revenue bonds. (HB 1700)