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Tuesday, April 24, 2018 |
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House Republican Caucus Legislative Update
By Rep Andria Tupola @ 7:26 PM :: 4841 Views :: Hawaii State Government, Republican Party
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| Aloha mai! April 24, 2018
We are two weeks away from the end of the 2018 Legislative Session! This is the last week of Conference Committee and the finalized bills will receive it's last vote on Tuesday, May 1st.
The devastation on Kaua'i and East O'ahu caused by last week's storm prompted the legislature to accelerate the State Budget bill. On Friday, April 20th, the State Budget (House Bill 1900) passed out of Conference Committee and the final vote will be held by the House on Wednesday, April 25th. Senate Bill 192 is the vehicle the Legislature is using to allocate $125 million for flood and disaster relief to the County of Kauai ($100 million) and Statewide ($25 million), but in order for the legislature to appropriate emergency funds to flood-stricken areas, the State Budget must pass final reading in the House.
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Representative Gene Ward with Senate President Ron Kouchi, Speaker of the House Scott Saiki, and Kauai Representatives James Tokioka, Nadine Nakamura, and Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa, in the Senate Ways and Means and the House Finance Conference Committee.
Picture from Civil Beat. |
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OVERALL BUDGET - FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019
Total funds: $14,438,080,109
General funds: $7,512,285,586 |
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FLOOD & DISASTER RELIEF
SB 192 - $125 million appropriation was added to the existing bill to provide emergency funds for Flood and Disaster Relief.
GRANT-IN-AID (GIA)
- $10 million in general funds for operating GIA
- $20 million in general obligation bonds for CIP GIA
OPERATING BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
Accounting & General Services: Added 75 permanent positions, 3 temporary positions, and $5,663,887 in general funds for capital improvement project staff costs
Business, Economic Development and Tourism: Added $1,050,000 in general funds for community-based economic development for elderly transportation services and the kupuna community care network
Education:
- Regular Education
- Added $1,500,864 in general funds for the Office of Hawaiian Education
- Added 66 permanent positions and $4,783,896 in general funds for capital improvement project staff costs
- Adds $500,000 in general funds for the Early College High School Initiative
- Charter Schools
- Added $2,182,338 in general funds for per pupil adjustment costs
- Early Learning
- Added 2 permanent positions and $133,618 in general funds for the Executive Office on Early Learning and Early Learning Advisory Board
Health:
- Added $800,000 in general funds for outreach and counseling services for chronically homeless individuals and families with severe substance abuse disorders
- Added $2,871,420 in general funds for emergency medical services
- Added $4,500,000 in general funds for three new ambulances for the County of Kauai, County of Hawaii, and City and County of Honolulu
Executive Office on Aging:
- Added $1,700,000 in general funds for Aging and Disability Resource Centers statewide
- Added $3,877,063 in general funds for Kupuna Care
- Added $1,200,000 in general funds for the Kupuna Caregiver fund
Human Services:
- Added $15,000,000 in general funds for Homeless Programs and Services
Public Safety:
- Added $5,000,000 in general funds for continued housing of inmates at the Saguaro Correctional Center
- Added $1,944,923 in general funds to address the Medicaid payment shortfall;
Transportation
- Airports: Added $10,994,788 in special funds for ten Wiki Wiki shuttle buses
University of Hawaii:
- Added $300,000 in general funds for rat lungworm research
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Here is an ***UPDATE!*** to the bills list introduced by members of our Republican Caucus that crossed over to the Senate:
HB 1602 - RELATING TO OPIOIDS
Requires that persons who sell opioid drugs must also provide a label warning of the risks of addiction and death.
Primary Introducer: Representative Cynthia Thielen (District 50 - Kaneohe Bay, Kailua)
Passed out of Conference Committee with amendments. Will go to the floor for FINAL READING VOTE.
Resolutions that are still moving in the legislature:
HCR 160 / HR 110 - URGING THE USAGE OF HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE WHEN REFERRING TO THE NAMES OF PLACES AND GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES IN HAWAI‘I.
Primary Introducer: Representative Andria Tupola (District 43 - Ewa Villages, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Nanakai Gardens, Ko Olina, Kahe Point, Nanakuli, Lualualei, Maili)
Resolution adopted. |
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Mondays at 8:30am
Join us on Live at the Legislature every Monday at 8:30am. Members of the Legislature give an update on what's happening at the Capitol. Tune into Channel 49 on Olelo Community Media, or visit olelo.org.
Here is a link to this week's episode. |
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| Rep. Tupola will be on April 30th. May 7th will be the last show for the session. |
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| On behalf of the minority caucus, mahalo to each of you for your support through this session. It is our honor and privilege to serve you. And if there is anything we can do for you, please reach out to any of our offices. Our contact information can be found on the capitol website. Don't forget to share this with your family and friends! Take care and God bless. |
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| Mahalo,
Andria Tupola
State House Representative, District 43
Minority Leader
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