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4TH ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

& COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE

Saturday, March 31, 2012

@ Noon-4:00 pm

Makiki Community Library

1527 Keeaumoku StreetBring donated canned goods & enjoy

this FREE family-friendly event withthe Friends of the Makiki Community

Library. Registration & activities

(including pictures with the Easter

Bunny & art activities) start at noon.

Storytelling by special guests start at

2:00 pm. Egg hunts for keiki under 12

years begin at 3:00 pm.

Questions? Call 586-9425 or

e-mail repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.gov.

MALAMA INA TOWN HALL

MEETING

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

@ 6:00-7:30 pm

Parish Hall, St. Clements Church

1515 Wilder Avenue

Special viewing of The Rain Follows

the Forest followed by a discussion

about what Hawaii and her citizens

are doing to protect Hawaiis water-

sheds. Learn what you can do to

malama ina.

MAKIKI TOWN HALL MEETINGWednesday, May 23, 2012

@ 6:00-7:30 pm

Makiki Park, Arts & Craft Bldg.

1527 Keeaumoku Street

What passed? What failed? Join Rep-

resentative Belatti to discuss the 2012

Legislative Session. Light refreshments

to be served.

Questions/RSVP, call 586-9425 or

e-mail repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.gov.

Dear Neighbor,

This years Spring showerscame a whole lot earlier than

expected with rain, hail,

wind, rockslides, and flood-

ing waters affecting manyparts of our State. With all

this wild weather, the 2012State Legislature worked onhundreds of bills impacting

the States economy, public

education, and health caresystemto name just a few

areas considered. This

monthsDistrict 25 Newsprovides a legislative update

to some of the key bills already enacted and others making their way

through the legislative process.

The work of the States Reapportionment Commission also came to arocky conclusion as the Commission proposed plans that would have

divided the existing Makiki/Tantalus community into three different

political districts. In its Final Plan, however, the Commission reconsid-ered its earlier proposals and redrew lines that have kept the Makiki/

Tantalus community intact. A more detailed article reporting on the

Reapportionment Commission and including maps can be found in this

issue ofDistrict 25 News.

As the 2012 Legislature continues its work, please contact me by email at

repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govor by phone at (808) 586-9425 with yourquestions or concerns.

With aloha,

Della Au Belatti

State Representative, District 25

MAKIKI, TANTALUS, MCCULLY, PAPAKOLEA MARCH 2012

District 25 News

The Shortlist

State Capitol, March 16, 2012: Representatives Della

Au Belatti and Sylvia Luke congratulate Roosevelt High

School teacher Kaeokulani Vasconcellos for being named

2012 Honolulu District Teacher of the Year.

mailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.govmailto:repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.gov

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2012 Mid-Session Legislative Update

This 2012 Mid-Session Legislative Update

highlights some of the bills passed by the

Hawaii House of Representatives on

Third Reading that survived First Cross-

over. During this second year of the

biennium, the State House passed 286

measures that now move over to the

Senate for further consideration. As the

session continues, the public can continue

to monitor the progress of these bills and

others at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

STATE BUDGET & ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION

The State Budget

(HB2012). Based on a

conservative estimate

of growth, the House

passed a budget that

promotes stable eco-

nomic growth and job

creation. HB2012 re-

stores certain essen-tial services affected

by the Great Reces-

sion, including agricul-

ture inspectors, and core programs in health and hu-

man services. The proposed budget also provides for

expansion and growth in key sectors in our economy,

including film and digital media, renewable energy,

infrastructure, broadband, tourism, and the military.

Motion Picture, Digital Media (HB2869). Extends the

film tax credit from January 1, 2016 to January 1,

2025, and increases the qualified production taxcredit ceiling. HB2869 also separates the calculation

of the credit amount based on wages and salaries

from the credit amount based on other qualified pro-

duction costs; and provides different credit amounts

based on residence within the counties for the wages

and salaries paid to all cast, crew, and musicians of

the qualified production, plus an additional unspeci-

fied per cent credit amount on wages and salaries of

cast, crew, and musicians who are state residents.

Venture Accelerator Fund (HB2319). Establishes a

Venture Accelerator Funding Program under the Ha-

waii Strategic Development Corporation to assist the

States technology businesses to compete for invest-

ment capital.

Environmental Workforce (HB2250). Establishes an

emergency environmental workforce to create short-

term employment for unemployed or underemployed

individuals. Participants will assist in the States ef-

forts to maintain and strengthen watersheds, eradi-

cate invasive species, and reduce invasive coqui frog,

coffee borer beetle, and fire ant populations.

EDUCATION

Instructional Time &

Bell Schedules

(HB2007). Requires

the Department of

Education (DOE) to

devise four bell

schedules each for

elementary, middle,

and high schools in

order to meet re-

quired minimum instructional student hours in a

school year.

Performance Management in Public Schools

(HB2527). Requires the DOE to establish a perform-

ance management program that includes an evalua-

tion component for teachers and educational officers.

Teachers entering the DOE for the first time will be

subject to a minimum probationary period of three

years.

Junior Kindergarten (HB1683); Early Learning System

(HB2519). HB1683 eliminates junior kindergarten

program beginning with the 2014-15 school year. Theintent is to replace this program with a comprehen-

sive early learning system. HB2519 provides funding

for the Early Learning Council and the Governors

Early Childhood Coordinator to further develop and

implement a comprehensive early childhood system

and to develop, execute, and monitor a phased imple-

mentation plan for a public-private preschool pro-

gram for four-year olds, including a financial business

plan with potential sources of sustainable revenue.

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HEALTHCARE

Bone Marrow Trans-

plant Program

(HB1952). Appropri-

ates funds subject to a

dollar-for-dollar match

between private and

public funds to HawaiiPacific Health to pro-

vide and restart a

bone marrow trans-

plant program within the State. The closure of HMC

West and East facilitiesthe States primary bone

marrow transplant facilitieshas forced patients to

relocate to the mainland to receive treatment. This

bill will ensure access to critical medical services for

local families by reestablishing this important pro-

gram in Hawaii.

Emergency Medical Care (HB1953). Provides for the

medical needs of Leeward Oahu in light of the closure

of Hawaii Medical Centers two hospitals, by appro-

priating funds to increase the on-call availability of

emergency medical services and ambulance services,

and assist Wahiawa General Hospital in providing ad-

ditional emergency room services given its increase in

patients and emergency cases.

PUBLIC SAFETY & TRANSPORTATION

Reduced Speed & Emergency Vehicles (HB2030).Requires motorists to either vacate the lane directly

next to a stationary authorized emergency vehicle or

reduce their driving speed if the emergency vehicles

visual signals are activated on a highway.

Photo Red Light Imaging (HB2790). Establishes a

photo red light imaging detector system program to

be administered by counties. Fines collected under

these county programs will be deposited into a gen-

eral fund account and be expended in the county in

which the fine was collected for the establishment,

operation, management, and maintenance of the

photo red light imaging detector system program.

Safe Routes to School (HB2626). Establishes the Safe

Routes to School Program and Special Fund within the

Department of Transportation. A surcharge of $25

for speeding violations in a school zone and a $10 sur-

charge on various other traffic violations in a school

zone will be deposited into the Safe Routes to School

Program Special Fund.

Priority Bills Enacted

Early in 2012 Session

Four priority measures passed quickly out of both

Houses of the State Legislature. HB2096 related to

Unemployment Insurance was moved upon to stop a

scheduled rise in rates that would have negativelyimpacted employers at a time when the economy is

still recovering. The Governor signed this into law on

March 9, 2012.

The House and the Senate also worked together to

expedite the passage ofHB608 related to Health.

This bill appropriated emergency funds, matched dol-

lar for dollar with private funds, to enable the

Queens Medical Center to operate a kidney and liver

transplant center. This bill became law on February

6, 2012.

Two other measures,

providing the University

of Hawaii system with

urgently needed fund-

ing, were also enacted.

SB239 relating to the

Hawaii Tobacco Settle-

ment Fund continues

the funding of the John

A. Burns School ofMedicine with a portion

of the Fund. SB809 relating to the University of Ha-

waii made an emergency appropriation of revenue

bond proceeds and increased the amount of the Uni-

versitys authorization to issue revenue bonds for the

purpose of financing construction and maintenance

of qualifying capital improvement projects.

To comment on something written inDistrict 25

News, please write to:

Representative Della Au BelattiState Capitol, Room 331Honolulu, HI 96813

repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.gov

If you would like to receive an electronic copyofDistrict 25 News, send an e-mail with the

subject line Request for District 25 News

to repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.gov.

District 25 News

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2012 REAPPORTIONMENT UPDATE

On Thursday, March 8, 2012 the Hawaii Reapportion-

ment Commission adopted a new set of maps for theisland of Oahu which redraws district lines based on

2010 census data, maintaining Makiki/Tantalus in one

unified State House district. This decision was a major

victory for the residents of Makiki/Tantalus ensuring that

the district maintains its own unified voice among the 51

legislators in the State House of Representatives.

Previously, on February 15, 2012, the Commission pro-

posed a revised plan based on the State Constitutional

requirement of extracting non-residents. The February

plan effectively eliminated a unified district comprisingof Makiki and Tantalus. Tantalus and upper Makiki were

combined into a district which included Manoa; while

lower Makiki was combined into a district which in-

cluded portions of Nuuanu, Papakolea and Punchbowl.

This plan effectively eliminated a State House District

which has existed since 1981.

Representative Della Au Belatti fielded a number of con-

cerned calls, letters and emails from residents regarding

the dismantling of the district. In a 24 hour period, over

100 people signed a petition asking the Commission to

reconsider splitting up the district. This petition,

along with additional information about gerryman-

dering along political factional lines, was presented to

the Commission in a series of meetings where other

Oahu residents voiced their concerns about the pro-

posed maps. These concerns included a district thatran from Waialua over the Waianae mountain range

and included a portion of Makakilo; as well as con-

cerns regarding a district that ran from Haleiwa to

Waiahole. Although redrawing district lines is not an

easy task, the State Constitution makes clear that

communities, landmarks, visible geographical fea-

tures, and historic boundaries are to be considered

for redistricting.

In the end, the Commission re-examined the maps

and took into consideration some of the concerns,including those of Makiki residents, that were voiced

during the series of public meetings following publica-

tion of the maps. Reapportionment and redistricting

are necessary as our State evolves, but this evolution

should not come at a cost to unnecessarily breaking

up established communities. Hopefully, future Reap-

portionment Commissions will continue to be pro-

vided the tools and time to accomplish their task in a

way which respects our State and federal Constitu-

tions and allows for ample community input.

March 2012: Makiki/Tantalus district as proposed and

adopted by the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission

on March 8, 2012.

Commission changes course and re-establishes

Makiki/Tantalus District

February 2012: Makiki/Tantalus district as proposed

in February 2012. Tantalus/Upper Makiki combined

with Manoa and Lower Makiki combined with por-

tions of Nuuanu, Dowsett Heights, & Punchbowl.

BY JON KAWAMURA