Your Testimony is Needed!
From Honolulu Republican Party, Feb 3, 2019
Our voice and opinions are powerful. Our legislators were elected to represent our concerns. It is up to us to voice concerns and to make our voice heard. If we take the time to convey our thoughts to our elected officials and follow up with them, our message will have great impact, but we all must get involved.
LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS WEEK 3
Monday February 4, 2019
HB 210
RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
Provides ranked choice method of voting for all partisan primary elections, special elections, and nonpartisan general elections held in this State on or after 1/1/2020. OPPOSE
HB 1383
RELATING TO MARIJUANA.
Decriminalizes certain offenses relating to marijuana and establishes a schedule of monetary fines for violations. Changes statutory references from "marijuana" to "cannabis." Provides for the dismissal of charges and expungement of criminal records based solely on cannabis offenses. Establishes the cannabis evaluation working group. Requires a report to the Legislature. OPPOSE
[Hawai'i does not want or need marijuana use to be encouraged by decriminalization or legalization. Our keiki, who are already being bombarded with e-cigarettes and vaping, do not need to have access to marijuana. Today's marijuana has higher THC contents than in the past, and decriminalizing it will only encourage more usage. Do we want our roadways congested with "drugged driving?"
It's time to stand up for our keiki, the police department, the Department of Transportation, and the justice system who remain staunchly opposed. It's our community Hawaii! We live, work and pray here. It is our home.
SAY No to recreational marijuana and no to decriminalization of marijuana.]
Hawaii Family Forum Action Center - No to Marijuana Decriminalization and/or Recreational Use
Tuesday February 5, 2019
HB 86
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT OF THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION RELATING TO THE RESIGNATION OF STATE SENATORS.
Constitutional amendment to allow any sitting state senator seeking another public office that begins before the senator's term ends to remain in office as a senator until the next occurring general election, or upon the senator being duly elected and certified to the other public office, whichever occurs first. OPPOSE
HB 434
RELATING TO MARIJUANA
Establishes the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division Special Fund (Special Fund) within the Department of Health. Reclassifies specific low-level marijuana offenses as non-criminal violations subject to a fine, which shall be deposited into the Special Fund for public education and awareness programs aimed at reducing the use of harmful drugs. OPPOSE
HB 712
RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
Requires certain executive branch candidates to disclose their federal income tax returns in order for their names to appear on an election ballot. Prohibits electors for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States to vote for candidates who have not disclosed their federal income tax returns. OPPOSE
HB 1153
RELATING TO REMOTE TESTIMONY IN LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS.
Requires each house of the Legislature to establish, by rule, procedures for the public to present oral testimony at legislative committee hearings through remote testimony. Appropriates funds. SUPPORT
SB 606
RELATING TO MARIJUANA.
Repeals all criminal penalties regarding marijuana except with regard to furnishing marijuana to a minor. Requires courts to expunge a person's criminal record for a marijuana conviction if that charge was the only charge emanating from a single set of facts and circumstances. OPPOSE
SB 1058
RELATING TO PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Requires the attorney general to prepare a statement for each proposed constitutional amendment in plain English that indicates the purpose, limitations, and effects of the proposed amendment. Requires the office of elections and county clerks to make the statement available to the public. SUPPORT
SB 1503
RELATING TO VOTING.
Allows incarcerated persons who were Hawaii residents immediately prior to incarceration to vote in Hawaii elections by absentee ballot. OPPOSE
Wednesday February 6, 2019
HB 435
RELATING TO INSURANCE.
Establishes an uninsured motorist identification database program and special fund within the Insurance Division to verify motorist compliance with insurance requirements and reduce the number of uninsured motorists. SUPPORT
HB 527
RELATING TO CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL USE.
Authorizes and regulates the manufacturing of edible cannabis products as manufactured cannabis products by licensed medical cannabis dispensaries. Establishes standards, including regulations and education protocols, for edible cannabis products. Requires cannabis and manufactured cannabis products to include a universal symbol, developed by the department of health, to identify any product containing cannabis. Requires the department of health to implement a cannabis product recall system. OPPOSE
HB 616
RELATING TO TAXATION.
Exempts locally grown produce and locally raised livestock food products from the general excise tax. SUPPORT
HB 1467
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.
Changes the assessment of the state fuel tax from a specified cents per gallon to the greater of a specified cents per gallon or a specified percentage of the wholesale price per gallon to the retailer, subject to a minimum monetary amount of tax based upon the tax paid by certain retailers. Subjects biodiesel oil to the same tax rates and reporting requirements as diesel oil. OPPOSE
SB 198
RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.
Authorizes counties to levy a county surcharge on transient accommodations tax in their respective counties pursuant to certain conditions. Repeals 12/31/2036. OPPOSE
SB 714
RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.
Imposes the transient accommodations tax on resort fees that are calculated separately from the advertised transient accommodation's rate. Clarifies that the transient accommodations tax shall be calculated based on the gross rental. Amends the formula for the amount of transient accommodations tax to be collected from time shares by increasing the base on which time share occupancy is taxed from one-half of the gross daily maintenance fees paid by the owner and are attributable to the time share unit to one hundred per cent of the gross daily maintenance fees. Specifies that the transient accommodations tax is to be collected from transient accommodations intermediaries who arrange transient accommodations at noncommissioned negotiated contract rates in the same manner as transient accommodations operators. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2019. OPPOSE
Thursday February 7, 2019
SB 556
RELATING TO FIREARMS.
Adds the requirement to notify the Terrorist Screening Center administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the gun permit application background check. OPPOSE
[There is no set method for adding (or removing) people to the Terrorist screening database. There is no due process and no appeals process. There has been many occasions where people have been added in error and because no one on the list is notified they do not find out until its in a situation of some importance, Children have been denied flights because there name is similar to some one on the list. Even a congressman was erroneously added to the watch list. As such we do not feel it is an accurate tool to be using to decide if some one should be able to purchase a firearm or not.]
SB 600
RELATING TO FIREARMS.
Provides that no person less than 21 years of age shall bring any firearm into the State. OPPOSE
[This bill would deny the legal right to own firearms to anyone under the age of 21. This would mean that if some one brings a firearm from out of state and they are under the age of 21 they would be a criminal Even though they legally purchased and own the firearm. This law would adversely affect the military members who are sent to Hawaii. These young men and women are charged with protecting this nation and using firearms to do so. But due to their age would be criminals if they wish to defend their home. Similar laws are currently being challenged throughout the country.]
SB 621
RELATING TO FIREARMS.
Requires a person to report the person's lost, stolen, or destroyed firearms to the appropriate county police department. Establishes penalties for failure to report. OPPOSE
[Although we believe a responsible gun owner should and will report a lost or stolen firearm. The wording goes beyond the bounds of the constitution and would make it so that a person who does not report lost of firearms within 24 hours would lose their firearms rights for the rest of their life. If a firearm is stolen and the owner is not aware, the owner would now be a criminal unless they can somehow prove they had no knowledge of it being stolen. As it is impossible to prove you did not know something this would make them a criminal.]
SB 635
PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE IX, SECTION 5, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII.
Proposes an amendment to article IX, section 5, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, to require the State to assure that each resident of the State has access to housing, subject to standards and criteria to be provided by the legislature. OPPOSE
SB 686
RELATING TO MARIJUANA.
Legalizes the personal use, possession, and sale of marijuana in a specified quantity. Requires licensing to operate marijuana establishments. Subjects marijuana establishments to excise taxes and income taxes. OPPOSE
[Everything drug users and the Cannabis Industry have said has turned out to be false. The negative impact of legalized marijuana has been documented using information gathered from multiple sources.]
Hawaii Future Project - Lessons Learned from Marijuana Legalization in Four U.S. States and D.C.
SB 1321
RELATING TO FIREARMS.
Clarifies that failure to register a firearm within the required time period does not relieve the owner of the duty to register the firearm. Allows the owner of an unregistered firearm to register the firearm thereafter without penalty. SUPPORT
[Although we do not support registration because it is an infringement on our 2nd Amendment rights. We do feel that a simple mistake should not result in criminal charges. If a person has a delay for any reason (medical, moving, transportation ect…) and can not register their firearms in the time required, if they attempt to register their firearms late they could currently be subject to criminal prosecution. This law would remove that criminal charge and give people an opportunity to register at any time.]
SB 1466
RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.
Establishes a process by which a law enforcement officer or family or household member may obtain a court order to prevent a person from accessing firearms and ammunition when the person poses a danger of causing bodily injury to oneself or another. OPPOSE
[Although there may be legitimate legal reasons to remove a persons firearms, this law removes all DUE PROCESS. The court orders are done in secret behind closed doors with no notification or chance to defend themselves of provide evidence in their defense. The first time the firearms owner finds out a red flag order has been placed on them is when the police show up to take away their firearms. They would then have to hire a lawyer to defend themselves in court to get them back.]
Friday February 8, 2019
SB 557
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Prohibits state and county law enforcement agencies from complying with federal immigration detainers or honoring requests for non-public information unless specifically required to do so by a warrant signed by a judge or provisions of federal, state, or local law. OPPOSE
SB 1347
RELATING TO THE WEED AND SEED STRATEGY.
Appropriates funds to the Department of the Attorney General as a grant for Weed and Seed Hawaii to maintain the weed and seed strategy, a collaborative effort to prevent crime and rebuild communities in targeted areas. SUPPORT
Stay up to date view all hearing notices HERE.
TESTIMONY
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate should be delivered at least 24 hours prior to the hearing and may be submitted in person, by fax, or electronically as indicated on the hearing notice.
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the House or Senate may be submitted electronically through the Hawaii State Legislature's website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov by clicking on the button marked Submit Testimony and following the on-screen instructions.
Testimony for legislative measures scheduled for hearing by the Senate may also be faxed to 586-6659 (Oahu) or 1-800-586-6659 (Neighbor Islands).
SENATE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY - Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline will be posted to the Capitol website within 24 hours after the hearing has adjourned and may be marked as "late".
HOUSE HEARING LATE TESTIMONY - Staff will try to incorporate additional testimony received within 24 hours of the hearing if possible.
The hearing committee will post testimony received "on-time" to the Capitol website at the beginning of the hearing. Testimony received after the 24-hour deadline may be marked as "late" but will be posted to the Capitol website as soon as possible following the hearing. Testimony submitted after the hearing will not be considered or posted.
LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR KEY DATES
FEB 7 TRIPLE REFERRAL FILING (BILLS) – All bills referred to three or more committees must be filed so that they can be in their second-to-last committee by the following day. (Note: A referral to a joint committee counts as one committee referral.) This deadline allows ample time for successful bills to make their way to the last committee in their originating chamber by the First Lateral deadline.
FEB 15 FIRST LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills referred to more than one committee (i.e., those with multiple referrals) must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by this day.
FEB 21 - 27 MANDATORY 5-DAY RECESS – Hawaii’s Constitution mandates a 5-day recess between the 20th and 40th days of the regular session. Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate convene or assemble formally in chamber on recess days. Committee hearings do take place. (No formal floor action takes place during this recess, but committees may still meet and conduct business, including public hearings.)