Measure would use a market-based approach to efficiently adjust fossil fuel prices to include the social cost of carbon Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – A bill to establish a tax on emissions of carbon dioxide as means to mitigate climate change passed third reading in the State Senate. Senate Bill 3150 SD2 will now cross over to the House for consideration. The overriding purpose of the bill is to assist in mitigating the severity of climate change by significantly reducing the carbon dioxide emissions that occur from combustion of fossil fuels. The committee report filed by Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Ways and Means Committee Chair, states that “ … climate change is the most critical issue confronting the State. The overwhelming consensus of climate scientists … is that climate change is occurring primarily as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels. The Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission has stated that the most effective single means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is to ‘put a price on carbon.’” The bill has two key components. First, it reconfigures the existing barrel tax to set taxes on each fossil fuel, based on the relative amount of carbon dioxide emissions that result from its combustion. Senator Karl Rhoads, who introduced the bill, observes that, “as drafted, the bill would set tax rates equivalent to a uniform tax of $40 per metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions from all fossil fuels. That tax rate would incrementally increase over the next decade to $80 per ton of CO2 emissions -- a level that many experts believe is needed to provide an adequate disincentive to further use of fossil fuels.” And second, the senator notes that “the proposed carbon tax is intended to raise the prices of fossil fuels to reflect the estimated costs to the people of this State and elsewhere to be incurred from the adverse impacts of climate change. The specific tax rates will be determined in conference with the House of Representatives. The carbon tax bill received initial approval by the Senate Committees for Agriculture and Environment and Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism at a joint hearing on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. In approving the bill, the committees added an amendment that would establish a tax credit to help alleviate the economic impact of the tax on lower income segments of Hawaii’s population. Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, explained that “while increasing the price on fossil fuel usage is the most effective way to reduce carbon emissions and to mitigate the impacts of climate change, we recognize the disproportionately greater impacts of such a tax on Hawaii residents with lower incomes. The refundable tax credit added by the amendment to Senate Bill 3150 is a means of reducing the economic impact of the carbon tax on our citizens who are less able to afford it.” The actions of the State of Hawaii alone will not prevent disaster. But if responsible action is taken now by the state, other states that are considering a carbon tax – and there are many – may be encouraged to enact such taxes as well. If enough states do so, the collective impact of those actions can largely compensate for the continued inaction of the federal government. The need for action now is compelling. Last year marked both the highest quantity of carbon dioxide emissions by humankind and the highest carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere in history. Every year, that effective action to reduce fossil fuel emission is another year delayed in which even more carbon dioxide accumulates in our atmosphere, further exacerbating the adverse impacts of climate change. #CarbonTax #FossilFuels #SB3150 #DonovanDelaCruz #ClimateChange #MikeGabbard

No cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawai‘i at this time Currently, there are no cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawai‘i. DOH is actively preparing for possible cases and working with state, county, and federal partners including the medical community in Hawai‘i. The following summary as of March 1 shows the number of individuals being monitored or under quarantine. Many of these individuals were identified through screening by federal officials at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. These numbers fluctuate often as travelers arrive, depart, or begin and end their self-monitoring with supervision by DOH. COVID-19 Summary of Numbers as of March 1, 2020 (updated as new information becomes available) Number of Confirmed Case(s) 0 Number of Persons Under Investigation (current, testing pending) 0 Number of Persons Under Investigation (closed, testing negative) 1 Number of Persons Under Quarantine 0 Number of Persons Self-Monitoring with DOH supervision 90 Of the 90 individuals who are self-monitoring with public health supervision, 82 are on O‘ahu, 5 are on Hawai‘i Island, 1 is on Maui, and 2 are on Kaua‘i. Confirmed: Meets CDC criteria and positive test result received from a certified laboratory. Person Under Investigation (PUI): Meets CDC criteria for investigation and testing pending. Quarantine: Individuals are required to remain in a designated location and separated from others. They are actively monitored by Department of Health staff. Quarantine is enforceable by law. Monitoring: Individuals voluntarily remain at home and refrain from work, school, gathering places, and public transit. They communicate daily with Department of Health staff. Updated physician guidance and criteria for persons under investigation On Feb. 27, the CDC updated the definition of a Person Under Investigation (PUI) to include travelers to other areas. CDC has posted updated Criteria to Guide Evaluation of PUI for COVID-19.  On Feb. 26, the DOH issued a medical advisory which encourages clinicians to reach out to the health department to discuss testing if they have a patient who meets the criteria for a PUI. Guidance for schools and childcare programs The CDC recently posted interim guidance for administrators of childcare programs and K-12 schools to plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19. School closures have taken place in Japan and South Korea. CDC will update this guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. Business continuity planning State and county agencies are actively preparing for continuity of business operations to deal with the potential impact of COVID-19. The goal is to enable ongoing operations during a public health emergency. To address concerns about workers who have travelled to China, DOH developed a list of frequently asked questions and answers to guide local businesses. Preventing the spread of misinformation and disease The Department of Health is committed to sharing information as it becomes available. People are urged not to spread misinformation or inaccurate statements that are not confirmed, and keep updated and informed on the situation. Everyone can help prevent the spread of respiratory illness with these everyday actions. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from illnesses, including COVID-19. Keep in mind that supplies are limited and we need to make sure there are enough masks for our front-line health care workers. If you are sick then wear a mask to protect the people around you. Prepare for the possibility that people may want to stay home or may be asked to stay home to prevent the spread of illness. If you have daily medication needs, have more than a week’s supply on hand and have as much on hand as your insurance will allow you to have. Not everyone can afford to stock up on supplies or has the space to store them, but anything you can arrange in advance means one less inconvenience or one less trip to the store while you are sick. Make family plans for the possibility of school or day care closures. Do some contingency planning in advance at the family level. Sign up for public notifications at health.hawaii.gov/news/covid-19-updates Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) HDOT Airports Division is diligently working to clean and sanitize the facilities, especially common touchpoints like escalator handrails, doorknobs, and elevator buttons at airports statewide. HDOT is currently working to install additional hand sanitizer dispensers at HNL and neighbor island airports, especially in the lobbies and high passenger volume areas. Airlines are taking precautions by continually cleaning and sanitizing public areas, equipment and aircrafts. National travel advisories Before you travel, check out Travel Advisories and Alerts for your destination(s) at www.travel.state.gov/destination. The State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide specific advice to travelers on their websites. Screening of arriving passengers at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu Foreign nationals who have traveled to mainland China within the last 14 days are being denied entry into the U.S. This includes not only people with a China passport, but all foreign nationals per Department of Homeland Security guidance. The exception is U.S. citizens, legal permanent U.S. residents or their immediate family. Enhanced screening procedures are in place at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to help keep the public and traveling community safe. An additional feature is the non-contact thermal temperature scanners that are used for incoming passengers from China. Airport passenger screening continues to be conducted by federal authorities from the CDC and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). #COVID19 #Coronavirus #DOH #Health #WorldHealthOrganization #DailyUpdate #HawaiiSenate

No cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawai‘i at this time Currently, there are no cases of COVID-19 identified in Hawai‘i. DOH is actively preparing for possible cases and working with state, county, and federal partners including the medical community in Hawai‘i. The following summary as of March 2 shows the number of individuals being monitored or under quarantine. Many of these individuals were identified through screening by federal officials at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. These numbers fluctuate often as travelers arrive, depart, or begin and end their self-monitoring with supervision by DOH. COVID-19 Summary of Numbers as of March 2, 2020 (updated as new information becomes available) Number of Confirmed Case(s) 0 Number of Persons Under Investigation (current, testing pending) 0 Number of Persons Under Investigation (closed, testing negative) 2 Number of Persons Under Quarantine 0 Number of Persons Self-Monitoring with DOH supervision 91 Of the 90 individuals who are self-monitoring with public health supervision, 83 are on O‘ahu, 5 are on Hawai‘i Island, 1 is on Maui, and 2 are on Kaua‘i. Confirmed: Meets CDC criteria and positive test result received from a certified laboratory. Person Under Investigation (PUI): Meets CDC criteria for investigation and testing pending. Quarantine: Individuals are required to remain in a designated location and separated from others. They are actively monitored by Department of Health staff. Quarantine is enforceable by law. Monitoring: Individuals voluntarily remain at home and refrain from work, school, gathering places, and public transit. They communicate daily with Department of Health staff. Guidance for schools and childcare programs The CDC recently posted interim guidance for administrators of childcare programs and K-12 schools to plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19. School closures have taken place in Japan and South Korea. CDC will update this guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. Business continuity planning State and county agencies are actively preparing for continuity of business operations to deal with the potential impact of COVID-19. The goal is to enable ongoing operations during a public health emergency. To address concerns about workers who have travelled to China, DOH developed a list of frequently asked questions and answers to guide local businesses. Preventing the spread of misinformation and disease The Department of Health is committed to sharing information as it becomes available. People are urged not to spread misinformation or inaccurate statements that are not confirmed, and keep updated and informed on the situation. Everyone can help prevent the spread of respiratory illness with these everyday actions. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from illnesses, including COVID-19. Keep in mind that supplies are limited and we need to make sure there are enough masks for our front-line health care workers. If you are sick then wear a mask to protect the people around you. Prepare for the possibility that people may want to stay home or may be asked to stay home to prevent the spread of illness. If you have daily medication needs, have more than a week’s supply on hand and have as much on hand as your insurance will allow you to have. Not everyone can afford to stock up on supplies or has the space to store them, but anything you can arrange in advance means one less inconvenience or one less trip to the store while you are sick. Make family plans for the possibility of school or day care closures. Do some contingency planning in advance at the family level. #COVID19 #Coronavirus #DOH #Health #WorldHealthOrganization #DailyUpdate #HawaiiSenate

Reduces waiting time for terminally ill patients seeking death with dignity, and allows Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to participate as providers HONOLULU - The Hawai‘i State Senate today overwhelmingly passed on third reading SB2582, SD1, authored by Senator Roz Baker (D-South and West Maui), which improves access and options for terminally ill patients seeking medical-aid-in-dying (MAID). “This bill will ensure that all terminally ill persons in Hawai‘i will have access to the full range of options for end of life care no matter where they reside or what licensed healthcare or primary care provider they use.  It fosters compassionate care by giving them some sense of control over their end of life," said Senator Baker, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health. The bill goes to the Hawai`i State House of Representatives for their consideration. The Our Care, Our Choice Act was enacted in 2018 to allow qualified patients in Hawai‘i with a medically confirmed terminal illness of less than six months to live, and possessing the decisional capacity, to determine their own medical care at the end of their life, thus allowing a terminally ill person to die in a peaceful, humane, and dignified manner. SB2582 SD1 amends the law to increase access to care by allowing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to participate as providers, in addition to physicians. “Hawaii’s unique geography and the State’s shortage of physicians create barriers to access for qualified terminally ill individuals,” said Senator Baker. “Finding a physician may be burdensome, especially for individuals on the neighbor islands.” The bill also amends the law to reduce the mandatory waiting period for those requesting death with dignity from 20 days to 15 days, providing a more reasonable pathway for those terminally ill individuals not expected to survive. “Hawaii has the longest mandatory waiting period amongst all 10 medical-aid-in-dying authorized states and the District of Columbia,” said Senator Baker. “Unfortunately, many terminally ill individuals die while waiting to complete the 20-day requirement.” In addition, the bill authorizes psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, in addition to psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, to provide counselling to a qualified patient. #OurCareOurChoice #SB2582 #HawaiiSenate #RozBaker

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –The House Committee on Lower & Higher Education and the House Finance Committee today amended passed HB2543 HD1 to expand early learning opportunities for 3 and 4 year old children across the state. The bill now moves to the full House for a vote. "Over the course of the last year we have been working on this bill as a cost of living measure to address the lack of available early learning centers across the state," said Representative Justin H. Woodson. "Today we are making several amendments and adjustments to this bill, and I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to pass this measure because it will greatly benefit our keiki and our working families." The bill requires the parents or guardians of public school kindergarten students to the disclose information on the child's prior child care program or prekindergarten attendance, if any, for the purpose of determining areas with the highest need for prekindergarten and child care programs. It also requires the Department of Education to assess kindergarten students, establishes the preschool open doors trust fund and requires annual reporting. It expands Preschool Open Doors Program eligibility from 4-year-old children to all children who are 3 to 4 years old or will not be at least five years old on or before July 31 of the current school year. It requires annual reporting regarding the revenues and expenditures of the early learning special fund and establishes a program for Department of Human Services to award grants for preschools. The bill appropriates funds and authorizes positions for the preschool open doors program, appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to expand its information technology system for the purpose of managing information on prekindergarten attendance and child care need and to contract for and operate preschool and child care programs. It establishes an Early Learning Coordinator position within the office of the Governor. It also establishes the goal of providing all children who are 3 to 4 years old, or will not be at least five years old on or before July 31 of the current school year, with enrollment in a preschool program by the year 2030 and assigns that responsibility to the Early Learning Coordinator. The bill appropriates funds to the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center for building classrooms for Hawaiian language immersion pre-kindergarten programs and appropriates funds for building early learning services classrooms on public library property. This early education bill is part of a joint economic package introduced by the House and Senate, and supported by the Ige Administration to address Hawaiʻi's cost of living obstacles. The joint working class economic package is designed to tackle the issues highlighted in the Aloha United Way sponsored report, "ALICE: A Study of Financial Hardship in Hawaii." Representative Sylvia Luke noted that among more than 100 pages of testimony only two testifiers did not support the bills. Luke said this shows the great need and support for expanding early learning opportunities for our children. "This bill provides an overlay of our vision that within 10 years to provide all children with access to early learning," Luke said. "It's not as easy as people think it is. It's about providing full access and the ability of working families to have their child ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. This is a huge task and we have relied on you folks for your thoughtful advice and support to get this bill where it is today." Business, community and nonprofit educational groups have been adamant in their support for this measure. “As a network of partners that support the health, safety and learning of our youngest keiki, we are excited about the potential expansion of child care and early learning programs for three and four-year olds," said Kerrie Urosevich, Lead for Network Design and Innovation at Hawai`i Early Childhood Action Strategy. "Over several decades, early childhood partners have worked diligently to elevate the importance of access to affordable and high-quality child care and early learning opportunities, which strengthen family income and support early cognitive, physical and social development. We are deeply grateful for the proposed financial commitments by the legislature, philanthropy and business sectors to make it happen. The implementation of this 10- year vision will only be successful if we leverage the early childhood eco-system together, with leaders from programs, philanthropy, business, the legislature, state departments and families themselves. There is no more important job than the one that builds the brains and hearts of our youngest in our society. Creating viable plans that will ensure early childhood providers are able to make a living wage in Hawai`i is imperative for the success of the expansion and should be prioritized. The economic stimulus package, of which HB2543 is a part, would begin to put families on the path toward economic stability and begin to create the needed foundations for young keiki and families to thrive.” Read more at Early education addresses inequities and provides better outcomes for keiki. #LearningBill #HigherEducation #LowerEducation #JointLegislation #JointEconomicPackage #ALICE #HILeg2020 #HawaiiSenate * Press Release from the Hawai'i House of Representatives

Senator Kouchi announces over $11.2 million in funding for Kaua‘i school, healthcare, road, bridge, and arboretum projects. "Mahalo to Governor Ige for supporting these important projects for Kaua'i," said Senate President Kouchi. HONOLULU – Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi (D-Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau) announced that Governor David Ige has released funding for a number of Capital Improvement Projects on Kaua‘i totaling over $11.2 million. "Mahalo to Governor Ige for supporting these important projects for Kaua'i," said Senate President Kouchi. They are: $2.05 million to finance design and construction to address significant repair and maintenance issues for Kekaha Elementary School on Kaua‘i; $100,000 to finance additional land acquisition for Kuhio Highway short-term improvements between Kuamo‘o Road to Temporary Bypass Road, Kaua‘i. Also $1.7 million to finance additional construction for this project; $500,000 to finance design, construction and equipment for library renovations at Waimea High School, Kaua‘i; $506,000 in general obligation bond funds for the design and construction for renovations, repairs and improvement at the Hanapepe Health Center, Kaua‘i, and the Lahaina Health Center, Maui; $500,000 to finance design and construction to build an outdoor pavilion area, along with wash stations, that will become the agricultural learning center of Kapa‘a High School, Kaua‘i; $250,000 to finance design and construction for parking lot improvements, including a covered drop-off area, at Wilcox Elementary School, Kaua‘i; $2.5 million to finance design and construction to complete the interior of the new library building at Kapa‘a Elementary School, Kaua‘i; $110,000 to finance design and construction for Building R of Waimea Canyon Middle School, Kaua‘i, to provide air conditioning connected to photovoltaic panels/battery storage for the school’s makerspace project; $2 million to finance design for a new gymnasium and athletic facilities at Waimea High School, Kaua‘i; The reversion and delegation of funds totaling $194,844.48 for the landscaping and beautification at Pua Loke Nursery Arboretum, Kaua‘i, to honor Spark Matsunaga; $1.163 million to provide additional design funds for the repayment of federal monies used in the initial design phase of the ‘Oma‘o Stream Bridge Rehabilitation project at Kaumuali‘i Highway, Kaua‘i; and $1.4 million in general obligation bond funds for the design and construction to renovate the CT scan room at Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital. #Kauai #WaimeaHighSchool #HawaiiSenate #RonKouchi #CIPHawaii

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Senate will honor the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa 2019 Rainbow Warriors men’s volleyball team, Head Coach Charlie Wade, and Assistant Coach Josh Walker during a Senate floor session on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. The commendation was sponsored by Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hilo, Hawai‘i Island), who played on the 1996 Rainbow Warrior volleyball team that advanced to the NCAA national championship and Senator Brian Taniguchi (D- Mānoa, Makiki, Punchbowl, and Papakōlea, O‘ahu), whose district includes UH Mānoa. “This team made Mānoa and the entire state of Hawai‘i proud,” said Senator Taniguchi. “They played in the national championship match for only the third time in the program’s history, capping off a stellar 28-win season.” “As a former Rainbow Warrior player, I know how hard these coaches and players worked to go undefeated for 25 straight matches and reach the national championship game,” said Senator Kahele. “Their dedication and perseverance led to a truly historic achievement. Coach Charlie Wade, Assistant Coach Josh Walker, and the players merit recognition for their achievements.” The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) selected Head Coach Charlie Wade as the 2019 National Coach of the Year, and Assistant Coach Josh Walker as the 2019 National Assistant Coach of the Year. The 2019 Rainbow Warrior men’s volleyball team: won the Big West Conference Championship, played in the NCAA Championship and finished #2 in the nation, earned the AVCA Team Academic Award, won its first 24 matches in straight sets, setting an NCAA record with a 74-set win streak, and held the nation’s #1-ranking for the final five weeks of the regular season. The official commendation concludes with: “The Senate extends its appreciation to the coaches for their exceptional leadership and guidance of these student athletes, and expresses its best wishes to all the team members for their continued success in all their future academic, athletic and post-graduate endeavors.” #RainbowWarriors #UniversityOfHawaii #MensVolleyball #KaiKahele #BrianTaniguchi

HONOLULU – Hawai'i Attorney General Clare E. Connors today announced Hawai'i has joined a bipartisan, multistate investigation of JUUL Labs. The 39-state multistate coalition is investigating JUUL’s marketing and sales practices, including targeting of youth, claims regarding nicotine content, and statements regarding risks, safety and effectiveness as a smoking cessation device. “The vaping epidemic in our schools has set back many of the health gains Hawai'i achieved in the wake of the tobacco war,” said Attorney General Connors. “The statistics for our state are staggering, and my department is working with other states and our local counterparts to investigate the role of JUUL Labs in purposefully targeting our youth and creating a devastating health threat to our community.” While traditional cigarette use has plummeted among youth, vaping is skyrocketing. 2017 data from the Hawai'i School Health Survey and national surveys found that: 3% of Hawaii’s public high school students had used electronic vaping products. 27% of Hawaii’s public middle school students had used electronic vaping products. 9% had first tried using electronic vaping products before the age of 13. In 2017, high school teens in Hawaii were vaping at double the average rate nationally. #Vaping #ECigs #ClareConnors #HawaiiPublicSchools #JUUL #TobaccoWar Source: https://ag.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/News-Release-2020-22.pdf

HONOLULU, HI – With the Festival of the Pacific Arts & Culture or FESTPAC less than four months out, event commissioners held a news conference today announcing numerous preparations underway. FESTPAC will run from June 10-21, 2020 with events being held throughout Honolulu and Waikiki. It will be the first time that Hawai'i will serve as FESTPAC host. Thousands of Pacific Islanders and visitors are expected to attend FESTPAC. This yearʻs theme is: E ku i ka hoe uli (Take hold of the steering paddle). “Our theme serves as a reminder to every Pacific Islander, that we are leading global discussions on climate change and its effect on the very identity of our island cultures,” said Senator English, who serves as FESTPAC Hawai'i Chairman. “It is a reminder to our young leaders to heed the call of our elders – to perpetuate and carry on our stories and practice our culture and ancestral knowledge.” FESTPAC is a traveling festival hosted every four years by a different Oceania country. It was started by the Pacific Community as a means to stem erosion of traditional cultural practices by sharing and exchanging culture at each festival. The first South Pacific Arts Festival was held in Fiji in 1972. In 1980, the event became the Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture. Delegates from more than twenty oceanic nations are expected to participate in this year’s event. Throughout the 11 days there will be a Festival Village, cultural exchange and discussions, performances and exhibits. Opening ceremonies are slated to occur at Iolani Palace; and, closing ceremonies will take place at Kapiolani Park. Health, housing, security, and other precautionary measures are all part of FESTPAC planning. FESTPAC Commissioners acknowledged that the event could not take place without the strong support of the Legislature, State agencies, Honolulu County and numerous sponsors. The Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA) is among the key sponsors of FESTPAC. HTA President and CEO Chris Tatum announced an allocation of $500,000 for the festival. “Our investment in this historic event is to ensure that all who come to FESTPAC Hawai'i will experience the beauty of our state and learn about our unique history that guides our values today,” said Tatum. FESTPAC Commissioners have worked with other sponsor partners including Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawai'i to assist in housing Pacific Island delegates. A Hawai'i delegation has participated in every FESTPAC since 1976. FESTPAC Commissioner and Kumu Hula Snowbird Bento is among the former delegates who represented Hawai'i at past festivals. She called the experiences, “eye opening.” “It’s important for Hawai'i to host FESTPAC, so we can remember who we are – that we come from a really rich legacy, because I think a lot of people have relegated in their minds that Hawaiians only exist in certain venues,” said Bento. Today’s FESTPAC announcement was held during the month’s end of honoring olelo Hawai'i. For more information about FESTPAC Hawai'i 2020, including a list planned events and venues, visit www.festpachawaii.org. #FESTPAC2020 #HILeg2020 #HawaiiTourism #CulturalArts #Polynesia #HawaiiSenate #KalaniEnglish

Honolulu, Hawai‘i – Senator Lorraine R. Inouye (D-Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, and Kona, Hawai‘i Island) announced that approximately $2.9 million in Capital Improvement Project funds were released last week by Governor David Ige for five projects in her district: --$147,000 to finance additional construction for safety improvements along Mamalahoa Highway between Milepost 3.9 to Milepost 6.9, --$1 million to finance the design for a new gymnasium and athletic facilities for Kohala High School, --$60,000 in general obligation bond funds for renovations to the Hamakua Youth Center, --$175,000 in general obligation bond funds for the design of a centralized administrative and business office, and private employee dining area, at Kohala Hospital, --And $1.5 million to finance the design and construction for improvements to the parking lot of Waimea Elementary School. #CapitalImprovements #DavidIge #HawaiiIsland #Hilo #HawaiiSenate #LorraineInouye

Hawai‘i State Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi issued the following statement today: Our thoughts and prayers and our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Rick Rogers and William "Uncle Billy" Enoka, who died in the plane crash at Dillingham Airfield. Kauai is mourning the loss of Uncle Billy, who was dedicated to keeping the people of Kauai safe through his lifelong work in the Kauai Fire Department, retiring in 1994 as a Captain with the Kauai Fire Department, and as a Lieutenant Colonel with the Civil Air Patrol. I worked with Uncle Billy from 1983 until he retired as a captain in the Kauai Fire Department in 1994 and thereafter in his work with the Civil Air Patrol.  He was a consummate professional and his love of flying equaled his love of mentoring our next generation of leaders.

HONOLULU – Hawaii Attorney General Clare E. Connors today joined a bipartisan coalition of 42 state and territory attorneys general in supporting H.R. 4421, the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation that will prevent a corporation from filing for bankruptcy in a District that it believes would be more favorable on issues to the debtor’s advantage—a practice known as “forum shopping”—when the corporation’s principal place of business or assets are located in a different district, which imposes a burden on states and other creditors who may have to travel and incur significant expenses to pursue their claims. “Corporations should only be allowed to file for bankruptcy in jurisdictions where they do business or where their assets are located,” said Attorney General Connors. “Anything else allows them to take undue advantage of the system, which disadvantages consumers and other entities that do business with the corporation.” Under current U.S. law 28 U.S.C. § 1408, individuals must file only in the district in which they have resided for a majority of the 180 days prior to filing.  However, corporations are permitted to pursue bankruptcy in any district in which the corporation has a minor affiliated interest, no matter how small or recently created.  In addition to conferring a distinct advantage to the corporation’s interest, it encourages placing cases in some of the most expensive legal markets in the country, contributing to the ever-growing costs of these cases.  Generally, businesses and consumers who interact with the debtor are located in areas where the debtor primarily operates, and having to travel to distant places makes it harder to protect their interests.  The same applies to states that may be owed taxes or other payments, and may need to incur expenses to collect, that could wipe out any amounts collected through the bankruptcy. Furthermore, because each individual court currently sets its own requirements for allowing non-local attorneys to appear, including deciding whether to charge an admission fee in each case, and/or to require that local counsel must be associated to the case, financial burdens and unnecessary delays in pursuing justice are virtually unavoidable.  The attorneys general’s letter therefore encourages Congress to ensure that when government attorneys appear on behalf of their governments, they can participate in the bankruptcy without having to pay excessive fees or hire local counsel. If passed, the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2019 will: Limit where businesses may file bankruptcy by ensuring that they will do so in a jurisdiction in which their “principal assets” or their “principal place of business” are located; and Require rules to be prescribed to allow all governmental attorneys (not just U.S. attorneys) to appear without charge and without being required to associate with local counsel. In the letter, the attorneys general tender support to the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2019, and contend that passage of the legislation will: Reduce forum shopping in the bankruptcy system; Strengthen the integrity of, and build public confidence and ensure fairness in, the bankruptcy system; Help consumers and other parties to be represented in court without undue burden; and Level the playing field for state attorneys general to guard their states’ financial interests and enforce consumer protection laws. In signing the letter co-sponsored by the attorneys general of Maryland, Ohio, Texas, and Washington, Attorney General Connors joins the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. A copy of the letter is available here. #HR4421 #BankruptcyVenueReform #ClareConnors #Bankruptcy #HawaiiState