2015 State Legislature

The Maui County Council’s Legislative Team will monitor the following prioritized measures by Council Chair Mike White:

  1. Legislation related to counties’ taxing authority, the distribution of tax revenue to Maui County, and other tax policy that may impact the County specifically or the counties generally;
  2. Legislation relating to the Sunshine Law and the Uniform Information Practices Act;
  3. Legislation that will have a direct impact on County operations or create a significant obligation for the County;
  4. Legislation relating to counties’ authority (i.e., home rule);
  5. Maui County capital improvement projects; and
  6. Legislation relating to Maui County hospitals.

Email the Legislative Team.

MeasureClick on the measure title to visit the status page. Description Testimony
 No legislation Informational briefing by the House Committee on Health  Comments
HB 730 Relating to Public Hearings Requires state agencies to hold public hearings in the county, or counties, primarily impacted by the proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of any administrative rule. Requires at least one public hearing with thirty days’ notice on each island that a proposed rule will likely have a significant monetary impact on residents or communities of that island.  2/3: Support
HB 150 Relating to Sunshine Law Allows a board member to transmit certain government records to another board member provided that no commitment to vote is made. 2/3: Support
SB 406 Relating to the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Primary Care Training Program Appropriates funds for the Hawaii health systems corporation primary care training program at Hilo medical center. Appropriates moneys. (HSAC) 2/2: Support (HSAC Treasurer Michael P. Victorino)
SB 465 Relating to Government Records Amends the Sunshine Law to expressly allow certain government records to be shared among public board members where no commitment relating to a vote on the matter is made or sought. 2/12: Support
SB 500 Relating to Environmental Impacts Requires any environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for any major infrastructure improvement project or major construction project in any coastal lands to include an analysis of the environmental impact of projected sea level rise or fall over the anticipated lifespan of the project.  2/12: Oppose
HB 197 Relating to the Transient Accommodations TaxHD 1 Amends amount of transient accommodations tax revenues allocated to the counties from a specified sum to a percentage of the revenues collected. (HSAC)Amends amount of transient accommodations tax revenues allocated to the counties from a specified sum to a percentage of the revenues collected for the counties to address visitor industry impacts on county services and tourism-related infrastructure. (HB197 HD1) 2/17: Support2/17: Support (HSAC Treasurer Michael P. Victorino)2/25: Support 
HB 403 Relating to the Transient Accommodations Tax Removes the current cap on transient accommodations tax revenues to be distributed to the counties and establishes the distribution of these revenues as a percentage of TAT collected for infrastructure and services related to increased tourism.  2/17: Oppose
HB 373 Relating to the Transient Accommodations Tax Amends amount of transient accommodations tax revenues allocated to the counties from a specified sum to an unspecified percentage of the revenues collected.  2/17: Support
SB 408  Relating to the Transient Accommodations Tax Amends amount of transient accommodations tax revenues allocated to the counties from a specified sum to a percentage of the revenues collected. (HSAC) 2/17: Support
SB 534 Relating to the Transient Accommodations Tax  Amends the rate of the transient accommodations tax (TAT) beginning July 1, 2016. Changes the allocation of TAT revenues to each county. Requires each county to expend moneys received from TAT exclusively to market and promote tourism and tourism-related activities and events within the respective county. Requires each county to report to the legislature annually on its expenditures of the TAT. Allocates a percentage of TAT revenues to the state parks special fund and to the special land and development fund. More  2/17: Oppose
HB 833 Relating to Taxation Makes permanent the current amount of transient accommodations tax revenues allocated for distribution to the counties. 2/17: Oppose
SB1210 Relating to Public Agency Meetings  Allows more than two members of a board to discuss official board business as long as no commitment to vote is made and the number of members do not constitute a quorum of the board.  3/2: Support
HB 1075, HD 2 Relating to Health  Authorizes the Maui Regional System to enter into an agreement with a private entity to transition one or more of its facilities into a new private Hawaii nonprofit corporation.  3/18: Support
HB 1075, HD 2, SD 1 Relating to Health Authorizes the Maui Regional System to enter into an agreement with a private entity to transition one or more of its facilities into a new private Hawaii nonprofit corporation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)  4/6: Support

4/7: Resolution 15-46

HB 134, HD 1, SB 2 Relating to Taxation  Reauthorizes the counties’ authority to establish a county surcharge on state tax for a limited time period, with the surcharge to be effective from 1/1/2017 to 12/31/2027, if adopted. Allows counties that have already established a county surcharge on state tax to extend the surcharge on state tax to 12/31/2027. Limits the use of surcharge revenues by counties that have already established a county surcharge on state tax to capital costs. Expands the definition of capital costs for counties with a population greater than 500,000. Requires the board of directors of the transit agency constructing the locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project to conduct audits, submit annual reports to the governor and the legislature, and conduct public hearings and take testimony on the audits and reports. (SD2) 4/22: Letter to Rep. Sylvia Luke

4/22: Letter to Sen. Jill Tokuda


 

 2015 Maui County Legislative Package

The Maui County Council has submitted a legislative package containing two State bills.  One bill would allow the University of Hawaii Maui College to research industrial hemp, while the other bill would make councilmembers more accessible to constituents.

The bills are:

TITLE:    A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP

The bill would authorize an industrial hemp research program in each county under the University of Hawaii.

A State law enacted last year approved a two-year industrial hemp research program, but only at a single testing site on Oahu.  The council has noted the potential economic development benefits of this crop, and believes allowing demonstration projects in each county may yield better research results.

Industrial hemp is a $500-million industry in the United States and hemp fibers are used to make thousands of different items, including fabrics, construction materials, foods, care products, and auto parts.

TITLE:   A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS

The bill would authorize members of a county council to jointly attend and speak at a community, educational, or informational meeting.

The council also seeks to amend a section in the State Sunshine Law to allow members of a county council to jointly attend and speak at community meetings where informational presentations are made.  Under current interpretations of the law, Maui County Councilmembers – elected officials who represent all Maui County residents – cannot freely attend such gatherings.

Consequently, councilmembers’ opportunities to educate themselves on important issues are limited.  Councilmembers reluctantly leave important community meetings – causing confusion and misunderstanding among constituents – because of Sunshine Law concerns.

Download (PDF, 133KB)


Bills in the Hawaii State Association of Counties Legislative Package

Download (PDF, 713KB)


Proposed bill relating to government records from Council Chair Mike White

The bill’s purpose is to allow county councilmembers and members of other “boards” subject to the State Sunshine Law to distribute public records to fellow board members.

Download (PDF, 60KB)


 Download the 2015 Session calendar

2015 Legislative Timetable

Related articles and useful links:


Click here to visit the 2014 State Legislative Session.

2014 State Legislature