Kaua‘i-specific legislation update by Gary Hooser With the 2008 legislative session now fully in swing, a number of Kauai-related measures have seen significant movement in the state Senate. The Education and Energy and Environment committees held a joint public hearing
Kaua‘i-specific legislation update
by Gary Hooser
With the 2008 legislative session now fully in swing, a number of Kauai-related measures have seen significant movement in the state Senate.
The Education and Energy and Environment committees held a joint public hearing last Monday for testimony on SB3170. The measure is still alive with amendments being considered. If passed, the proposal would establish pesticide-free buffer zones around schools.
Working with representatives from the Farm Bureau, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health, the primary goal is to reach an agreement that will protect school children, teachers and faculty and not be detrimental to agricultural operations around the state. Concerns have been raised about possible unintended consequences on very small farms, nurseries etc. In addition, since virtually all new schools are situated on or near agricultural lands, it is important that the proposal not inordinately inhibit the donation of land for new schools.
While health should be the number one priority and on the surface it may seem simple and obvious that pesticides and children should not mix, the industry perspective is insistent that adequate protections are already in place and additional safeguards are unnecessary. In addition, little conclusive evidence or testimony was presented at the hearing demonstrating that there were immediate threats to health and safety as a result of current industry practices. Neither the state health department, nor the Department of Agriculture were in support of the bill at its original hearing, claiming in general that the measure was too broad and unnecessary. Amendments are presently being considered that might satisfy their concerns.
Another measure that Kaua‘i residents have expressed interest in is SB2528 which establishes a sub-account in the State Parks Special Fund that would collect 100 percent of all proceeds from Koke‘e State Park and Waimea Canyon State Park, less any net amounts due to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The funds would then be used exclusively for repair, maintenance and operation of only Koke‘e and Waimea state parks.
It is the current policy of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to utilize the funds generated in areas such as Koke‘e for improvements and maintenance of parks located elsewhere in the state. This measure if passed into law, would prevent the Koke‘e and Waimea state parks from being developed into “cash cows” to the possible detriment of our local parks in order to benefit parks located in other areas of the state.
The committee on Water/Land passed this measure out of committee despite objections from the Department of Land and National Resources. The next stop in the legislative review process for this bill will be the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The third most widely discussed Kaua‘i-specific measure currently under discussion is SB3221. This initiative proposes that the state join with public/private partners in the purchase and development of the Coco Palms resort into a public historical park and cultural education center to preserve and benefit native Hawaiian culture. SB3221 was heard in the Water/Land Committee, received over 65 pieces of testimony in support with none opposing, and was passed out of committee with technical amendments.
The Coco Palms initiative, SB3221, can best be described as a “vehicle” for discussion of the general vision in the hopes of finding partners willing to help make that vision a reality. While the state of Hawai‘i might invest public funds in such a venture, it is unlikely to do so unless additional qualified public/private partners are found. Discussions with such potential partners are ongoing. A key part of the measure is a component that insures broadbased community involvement in the development of the long term vision and plan for Coco Palms. Some in our community prefer retaining the resort/hotel component, some would like to see kupuna housing be incorporated into the plan and others prefer the focus be on cultural and historical education and preservation. In the end, if this proposal moves forward toward reality, it will be a community based process that guides its future.
The above is just brief synopsis of three initiatives that may impact Kaua‘i residents directly. I myself and the entire Kaua‘i legislative delegation are working on numerous other funding priorities, pending legislative initiatives and other important improvements to our island that will also be considered during the coming weeks.
Many have asked about highway construction. The short answer to that question is that the Legislature has provided the funding for several major improvements both in Kapa‘a and in Lihu‘e. Action now is dependent on the Department of Transportation putting construction contracts into place and satisfying various regulatory requirements so the work can be completed.
Likewise, projects such as the Waikaea Canal dredging are long overdue and way behind schedule. The funds have been provided by the Legislature but continued administrative delays have resulted in the project’s taking an unacceptable amount of time to actually be completed. The latest word from the DLNR is that work is scheduled to begin soon, hopefully before the end of February.
Citizens are encouraged to be a part of the process. Visit the Senate’s Web site at www.capitol.hawaii.gov to review legislation, submit testimony and track bills. For more information, contact my office manager, Mark Mararagan at mararagan@capitol.hawaii.gov or as always, should you need to reach me directly call me on my cell at 652-4279.
• Gary Hooser is Senate Majority Leader, representing the 7th Senatorial District, covering Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau. He is a resident of Wailua and writes a biweekly column exclusive to The Garden Island.
