Minors may get more protection HONOLULU (AP) — A parent’s failure to report the death or disappearance of a child could become a felony. ADVERTISING The Senate Human Services committee on Tuesday took up a bill that holds parents and
Minors may get more protection
HONOLULU (AP) — A parent’s failure to report the death or disappearance of a child could become a felony.
The Senate Human Services committee on Tuesday took up a bill that holds parents and guardians responsible for reporting missing children in a timely matter. The bill would also make it a felony to provide false information to law enforcement authorities who are investigating a missing child case.
The committee was also to hear a bill that changes the reporting requirements for doctors who treat children who appear to be victims of abuse or neglect. The bill would require doctors to notify authorities when there’s reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect.
Stop GMO rally held in Honolulu
HONOLULU (AP) — Walter Ritte and his sons built a statue at the state Capitol on Tuesday to raise awareness about genetically modified food and seed trials.
The statue was part of the Stop GMO in Hawaii rally. The demonstration was organized to urge lawmakers to support bills that call for labeling genetically modified foods and require biotech companies to reveal where they’re conducting field trials.
State employees overpaid $2M
HONOLULU (AP) — State officials say Hawaii has accidentally overpaid employees $2 million.
Acting State Comptroller Dean Seki said a lot of the overpayments happen because Hawaii’s state workers still use paper forms for sick or vacation leave and that the process is not computerized.
He says if an employee takes time off at the end of a pay period, the paycheck has already been issued and officials have to collect the overpayment from the worker. According to the state, Hawaii overpaid employees $2 million as of the end of last year and the state recovered $470,000 of that. More than $1.5 million is still owed to the state.
But state officials say many of the employees have since retired or died.
Families to help build own homes
WAIANAE, Oahu (AP) — More than 70 Hawaii families are getting the chance to become homeowners by helping build their own houses.
A self-help housing subdivision in Waianae is making homeownership possible for low-income residents with help from a nonprofit developer and government agencies.
The homes are being built on 5,000-square-foot lots to be sold for $256,000 to $276,000. The median price for an Oahu home last year was $575,000.
Families are saving about $100,000 by contributing about 65 percent of the labor, working 32 hours a week. Seven teams of about 10 family members will be led by a construction supervisor.
Self-Help Housing Executive Director Claudia Shay says the sweat equity is treated as a substitute for a down payment. A federal program is providing low-interest loans.
