Monthly Archives: February 2003

For third reading on the House floor, I made a floor speech my House Bill 691, which would basically allow contractors to join together as a joint venture in the bidding process so long as each contractor individually has paid state taxes for the past two years. This bill would help small companies to participate in the bidding process when individually, it would be hard to do. House Bill 691 passed third reading with no opposition and will be heading over to the Senate.

This morning I participated in Honowai Elementary School's drug free march in the neighborhood. I took some pictures of the school's library because it is in need of air conditioning.

My enterprise bill passed Finance Committee with amendments and will be up for third reading.

This is the latest update on some of my bills that are still alive.

I am working hard with the Chair of Finance Committee, Dwight Takamine on my Capital Improvement Project requests for Honowai Elementary, Kaleiopuu Elementary and Waikele Elementary Schools. Honowai Elementary wants air conditioning for their library. Kaleiopuu Elementary requested an emergency gate in the back of their school. Finally, Waikele Elementary hopes to extend their parking lot. The fiscal situation is tight, but being that I am on the Finance Committee, I intends to do my best to see these projects funded.

My enterprise zone bill will be decided tomorrow in Finance Committee. My ethics bill is in Judiciary committee and grant-in-aid bill for Waipahu Cultural Garden is in Finance Committee. My Health Employer Medical Insurance Company bill needs to be heard by the Judiciary Committee in the Senate if it is to go on to third reading. I will be defending my procurement bill on third reading this Thursday. On that day, I will also be presenting my first floor speech.

18 out of 20 of my bills have been heard in committees in the House and/or Senate. As of Tuesday, February 11, 2003, 16 out of my 20 bills are still alive and may pass first lateral and enter third reading. If they pass third reading, they will cross over to the Senate, and bills in the Senate will cross over to the House.

(1) HB679 Requires the department of transportation to establish standards for the placement of school zone traffic signals, signage, and crosswalks, on public roads, to help ensure the safety of students, parents, and school personnel.

– The federal, state, and city governments has jurisdiction depending on the ownership of the throughfare. This bill would allow the state to have jurisdiction over school safety signs within a 1/2 mile radius from the center of the school property. The distance can be amended.

(2) HB685 Designates the entire island of Oahu as an enterprise zone for two years from 07/01/2003 to 06/30/2005.

– For strategy reasons, I made the bill broad and had the enterprise zone cover the entire island of Oahu so members of the House can narrow the region down through discussion. For example, if the bill mentioned West Oahu only, it may have a lesser chance of being heard because it may offend politicians not in the region.

(3) HB681 Removes Social Security number requirement for driver’s license. Authorizes the submission of identifying documents; and HB1521 Prohibits the use of social security numbers to verify the identity of a person signing a candidate’s nomination papers.

– I introduced these bills because of the problems that have been occuring with identity theft. HB 681 will be heard in Transportation Committee this week.

(4) HB1523 Requires that rental fees for public school facilities be commensurate with market rates. Dedicates increased rental fees to public/private partnerships established within the school-to-work transition program.

– Because of the bad fiscal situation the state is facing, this bill’s intent is to bring in more revenue into education. On the other hand, I understand how this would put a strain on non-profits looking for a facility at a reasonable cost. This is a bill I introduced in the House on behalf of Senator Brian Kanno.