HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers are heading into a busy week when bills have to be passed out of the House and Senate and sent over to the other chamber. Those that don’t make it over the hurdle will die. ADVERTISING
HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers are heading into a busy week when bills have to be passed out of the House and Senate and sent over to the other chamber. Those that don’t make it over the hurdle will die.
They’re taking up proposals on creating more affordable housing and legalizing industrial hemp. They’re also deciding how to treat victims of sex trafficking, whether to ban ivory sales and how to regulate fantasy sports.
Several police accountability bills will be up for a vote, touching on body cameras, untested rape kits and investigations of police-involved deaths.
Here’s a sampling of the proposals:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING — Gov. David Ige wants to increase the availability of low-income housing so that more people have a roof over their heads. One of Ige’s bills, SB 2833, would change the state’s low-income housing tax credit to encourage developers to build more of the housing stock that’s in such high demand.
FANTASY SPORTS — Nearly 60 million Americans play fantasy sports, and state lawmakers across the country are trying to figure out how to regulate sites like FanDuel and DraftKings. A proposed Hawaii law, SB 2429, would create the violation of promoting fantasy competitions if someone is under age 21 or advertises the game at a school or college.
RAPE EVIDENCE — The Honolulu Police Department has about 1,500 rape kits that haven’t been tested, one of many police departments around the U.S. with untested evidence. A bill in the Senate, SB 2366, would require more reporting from law enforcement departments about the situation.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERSIGHT — A group of senators want an independent board to investigate when officers are involved in incidents that result in death or serious injuries. A bill, SB 2196, would set up the board within the department of the attorney general. But some oppose the idea because it would make reports from criminal investigations confidential which are currently accessible to the public.
POLICE BODY CAMERAS — Body cameras are seen by proponents as ways to protect both the public and the police during tense interactions, and lawmakers are working on figuring out how to set up the system. Some police departments oppose the bill, citing financial burdens and other problems. A bill, SB 2411, which would set up rules and requirements for wearing body cameras, is up for a vote in the Senate.
IVORY BAN — Animals rights organizations say Hawaii could become the largest ivory market in the U.S. if the market is left unregulated. A bill, HB 2502, moving in the House would ban the sale of elephant ivory, as well as certain animal parts like tiger pelts and rhinoceros horn.
SEX TRAFFICKING — The issue of sex trafficking became more of a priority at the Legislature this year after lawmakers heard about girls being recruited into the sex trade at local schools. A bill, HB 1902, would separate minors who engage in sex work form adults in the industry, decriminalizing the activity for minors and instead offering support.
DRUG OVERDOSE PREVENTION — Drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental deaths in Hawaii, so lawmakers are pushing a bill to make it easier to get medication that counteract the effects of overdoses. The bill, SB 2392, would also provide immunity for people who administer drugs such as naloxone to people overdosing on opioids.
INDUSTRIAL HEMP — Hawaii residents say legalizing industrial hemp could spur the state’s agricultural industry. Lawmakers are considering a bill, SB 2787, that would legalize and set rules for growing industrial hemp. It would also require the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to research product development, like using hemp to make clothing and oils.
INTER-ISLAND FERRY — It’s been several years since Hawaii had an inter-island ferry, and many residents in the state would like to have that option for visiting neighbor islands. But the challenges to setting up the system are vast. The state Department of Transportation would have to study what it would take to set up an interisland ferry system under SB 2618, a bill in the Senate.
