Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate 2008 Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Legislative Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Accomplishments Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate 2008 Regular Session Hawaii State Senate Senate Majority Office Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate Hawaii State Senate FOREWORD This publication, prepared by the Senate Majority Research Office with the assistance of the staff of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, provides an overview of the accomplishments of the Twenty-Fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii during the recently completed Regular Session of 2008. This edition consists of: (1) The "Table of Contents" is a list of the measures as they appear in the publication. Arranged by Committee with measures categorized by broad topics and descriptive headings, it provides a convenient topical finding aid. (2) The "Digest" section is composed of a brief narrative description that includes the highlights of each Senate Committee and a summary review of the bills passed and concurrent resolutions adopted by both houses of the Legislature and resolutions adopted by the Senate. The bill digests were prepared in part from digests supplied by the Legislative Reference Bureau Systems Office. The measures are categorized by the Senate Standing Committee of first referral. Where applicable, Act numbers, vetoes, and veto overrides as of May 28, 2008, have been inserted. (3) The "Executive Budget Summary" was provided by the Senate Ways and Means Committee staff and highlights key funding and staffing differences between the Governor's budget request and what the Legislature enacted as the Executive Supplemental Budget (H. B. No. 2500, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1). (4) The "List of Measures Passed" section is a listing of all measures on which official final action was taken by the Legislature. The listing includes all bills and concurrent resolutions passed by both houses as well as resolutions adopted by the Senate, and includes the draft numbers as well as a short descriptive title for each measure. The measures are listed in numerical order by Committee of first referral. Additional information on selected measures that passed the Legislature can be found in the 2008 Legislative Action Briefs, which are also created and distributed by our office. The Legislative Accomplishments publication is intended primarily as a desk reference for quick access to summary information concerning bills and concurrent resolutions approved by the Legislature and resolutions adopted by the Senate. Users should refer to the actual measures and accompanying committee reports for details on the measures. A copy of this publication can also be found online at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/senmaj/accomp/ 2008-accomplishments.pdf. The Senate Majority Research Office May 2008 Foreword i ii Foreword TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD........................................................................................................................................... i AGRICULTURE AND HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS...................................................................................... 1 Highlights of Accomplishments of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs........................................................................................................................................ 1 Bills Passed AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Agribusiness Development Corporation; Qualifications of Board of Directors and Preparation of Strategic Plan ................................................................................................................. 3 Authority of Agribusiness Development Corporation; Acquisition of Galbraith Estate Lands .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 AGRICULTURAL AND AQUACULTURAL LOANS Agricultural and Aquacultural Loans; Sustainability Projects ................................................................. 3 Increased Agriculture Loan Ceiling Under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act ............................ 4 HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS Makahiki Commemoration Day.................................................................................................................. 4 Making Taro the State Plant......................................................................................................................... 4 IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS Important Agricultural Lands ....................................................................................................................... 4 INVASIVE SPECIES/BIOSECURITY Department of Agriculture; Biosecurity Program ..................................................................................... 5 Designation of Restricted Plants and Prohibition on Sale of Noxious Weeds....................................... 5 Inspection, Quarantine, and Eradication Service Fee ............................................................................ 5 Taro Security and Purity Task Force............................................................................................................. 5 LAND USE Agricultural Business Within Enterprise Zones............................................................................................. 6 Agricultural-Energy Facilities ........................................................................................................................ 6 Boundary Amendments for Lands Contiguous or Adjacent to Agricultural Lands ............................ 6 Solar Energy Facilities in Agricultural District.............................................................................................. 7 WATER Agricultural Water Security........................................................................................................................... 7 Preferential Agricultural Water Rates ......................................................................................................... 7 OTHER ISSUES Cruelty to Equine Animals ............................................................................................................................ 7 Hawaii-Produced Milk................................................................................................................................... 7 Honey as an Agricultural Commodity........................................................................................................ 7 Lease of Animal Quarantine Facilities........................................................................................................ 7 Resolution(s) Adopted HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS Hawaiian Language Signs at the State Capitol ....................................................................................... 8 Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Televised Meetings ........................................................................................ 8 Queen Liliu‘okalani's Birthday...................................................................................................................... 8 IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS Important Agricultural Lands; Galbraith Estate Lands............................................................................. 8 Table of Contents iii INVASIVE SPECIES/BIOSECURITY Invasive Species; State Inspection Programs ............................................................................................ 9 OTHER ISSUES Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers; Federal Legislation .............................................................. 9 Hawaiian Cacao Task Force ....................................................................................................................... 9 COMMERCE, CONSUMER PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ............................... 11 Highlights of Accomplishments of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Affordable Housing................................................................................... 11 Bills Passed I. Affordable Housing Affordable Housing; For-Sale Multi-Family Condominium Developments; Exemptions ................................................................................................................................................ 13 Affordable Housing; Hula Mae Multifamily Revenue Bond Authorization............................................ 13 II. Business Regulation and Financial Institutions Automated Teller Machines; Transaction Fees......................................................................................... 13 Business Registration; Corporate Dissolution; Effect of Expiration .......................................................... 13 Business Registration; Trade Names; Registration; Enforcement............................................................ 14 Code of Financial Institutions; Updates; Housekeeping Amendments ................................................ 14 Financial Institutions; Name or Trademark Fraud ..................................................................................... 15 Money Transmitters; Housekeeping Amendments; Fee Structures.......................................................