d25news_05_summer2011

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District 25 NewsMakiki, Tantalus, McCully, Papakolea Summer 201

This Summer Edition of District 25 News features highlights from the 26th Legislature.

It’s sometimes difcult to follow the twists and turns of the legislative process, and I want to

share some of the important issues – both those that made headlines and those that did not –

with you.

Please also save Wednesday, August 17, 2011, 6:00 pm, for a community-wide Legislative

Coffee Talk with me to review this past year’s accomplishments and challenges, discuss pro-

spective legislation for the 2012 session, and talk story about any other community concerns

or questions you may have! I’ll be hosting this Community Coffee Talk at Makiki

District Park’s Arts & Craft Building.

In the meantime, please help me welcome my new ofce manager, Jon Kawamura, to

my ofce. Jon or I are available to answer your questions or community concerns at

(808) 586-9425 or you can e-mail me directly at [email protected].

Hope you and your family have a safe and happy summer!

With warm regards,

Della Au Belatti

Aloha Neighbor,

Aloha and Mahalo to Session Staff The work of a legislative ofce that represents over

22,000 residents in one of Hawaii’s most dense, most

urban, and most diverse districts can be challenging.

This year, Representative Belatti was fortunate to have

a great session staff that skillfully managed committee

hearings, addressed constituent concerns, researched th

myriad of issues considered by the Legislature, and co-ordinated the many community meetings and activities

we held in the neighborhood and at the Capitol.

Mahalo to Sabrina Yoza, Judy Ma, Jonalyn Uehara,

Bernadette Fo, Bernard Fo, (not pictured) Joal

Murakami, and Jon Kawamura for their hard work and

dedication!



Tackling Government Expenditures

Legislative Update 2011In 2011, the primary challenge for the State Legislature was rectifying a $1.3 billion deci

over the remainder of scal year 2011 and the next biennium of scal years 2012-2013.

As in the past two years, the Legislature achieved a balanced budget through a combina-tion of aggressive cuts and revenue-generating measures. The Legislature also addressed

critical areas including consumer protection, education, health care, and affordable hous-

ing.

The following are brief highlights of the Legislature’s accomplishments by select issue areas. If you would like to

learn more about the past legislative session or discuss proposals for 2012, please contact Representative Belatti

at 586-9425 or at [email protected]. She would be happy to meet with you or a group of neighbors to

discuss important legislative and community matters.

The State Budget (HB200; Act 164). The 2011 budget bill covers

the next two scal years and appropriates $5.4 billion in general funds

($11 billion in all means of nancing) for FY2012, and $5.5 billion

($10.9 billion in all means of nancing) for FY2013. To balance the

budget and close a projected decit of $1 billion over the next bien-

nium, the Legislature made over $600 million in cuts to government.

Included in the cuts are labor savings of $88.2 million in each year of

the biennium on the assumption that most state workers will take a

5% pay cut and the 5% pay cuts in the salaries of state legislators,

judges, the governor, lieutenant governor, and department heads

and deputies will be extended.

Reducing the State’s Unfunded Liability (HB1038; Act 163).

For state and county workers hired prospectively (after June 30,

2012), this bill makes needed changes by decreasing employees’

retirement benets and increasing contribution rates in order to

maintain the retirement system in a scally responsible manner and

reduce the State’s future unfunded liability.

Mortgage Foreclosures (SB651; Act 48). Enacts one

of the nation’s strongest mortgage foreclosure laws

protecting owner-occupants. Establishes a 3-year

Mortgage Foreclosure Dispute Resolution Program for

non-judicial foreclosures beginning no later than Oc-

tober 1, 2011. Voids any mortgage foreclosure actions

taken by unlicensed nonexempt mortgage servicer and

prohibits egregious misconduct by foreclosing mortga-

gees.

Among other provisions, the law also permits under

certain circumstances the conversion of non-judicial

foreclosures to judicial foreclosures; prohibits decien-

cy judgments after non-judicial foreclosures in certain

circumstances; and requires certain large mortgage

servicers to maintain an ofce in Hawaii to address

consumer inquiries, complaints and to accept service of

process starting July 1, 2012. There is also a morato-

rium on any new non-judicial foreclosures under the

old process until July 1, 2012.

Protecting Consumers

July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2013General Funds Only



Addressing Affordable Housing

Ensuring Access to Health Care

Improving Education

State Capitol (March 17, 2011): During Education Week at

the Capitol, Representatives Saiki and Belatti congratulateWashington Middle School Principal Michael Harano for being named the 2010 Hawaii Distinguished Principal of the Year.

Marc Alexander, the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness in Hawaii, addresses a standing-room only crowat a Community Conversation sponsored byRepresentative Belatti and the Parish of St. Clement.

Implementing Increased Student Instructional Time

(HB945; Act 52). Implements the minimum school year and student

instructional hours requirements passed in 2010 in a manageable

and scally responsible way. Exempts multi-track schools from the

requirement, staggers the implementation of the increased student in-

structional hours requirement, permits waivers by the Board of Educa-

tion, and requires the Department of Education to assess the ability of schools to comply with the increased minimum hours.

Reconstituting Schools (SB1485; Act 148). Authorizes the Superin-

tendent of Education to reconstitute public schools that are failing (not

including charter schools). Under reconstitution, the Superintendent

may replace staff, contract with a private entity to manage the school,

and/or change the membership of the school community council.

Funding, Governance & Accountability of Public Charter Schools

(SB1174; Act 130). Requires charter school budget requests for

needs-based facilities funding to include a detailed explanation as to

the formula used and the funding request breakdown by school. Re-quires charter schools and their local school boards to develop internal

policies and procedures consistent with ethical standards of conduct.

Establishes a task force to address issues on charter school governance,

accountability, and authority.

Stimulating the Development of

Low-Income Housing

(HB960; Act 158). Authorizes the

Hawaii Housing Finance and Develop-ment Corporation to grant no-interest

low-income housing tax credit loans

in order to encourage the development

and preservation of rental housing for

lower income families.

Retaining Affordable Housing Rental

Units (SB903). Creates the affordable

rental housing development program.

Allows non-prots to acquire expiringfederal housing contracts to ensure that

projects remain as affordable housing.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

(HB484; Act 110). The shortage of quality primary

care health care providers directly impacts access to

health care throughout our State. Requires hospitals

to allow APRNs to practice within the full scope of

their allowable practice, including as a primary care

provider. Authorizes prescriptive authority to request

and dispense manufacturer’s pre-packaged samples

of over-the-counter and non-controlled legend drugs.

Health Insurance Exchange (SB1348). Establishes

the Hawaii Health Connector (HHC), the State’s

health insurance exchange, pursuant to the federal

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

HHC will facilitate the purchase and sale of quali-

ed health and dental plans, enable consumers to

purchase coverage and manage health and dental

plans electronically, and serve as a clearinghouse for

information.



Opposition Votes that Did Not Make the Headlines

District Project Funding Update

In a Democratically-controlled Legis-

lature (24-1 in the Senate; 43-8 in the

House), opposition votes do not often

make the news. However, opposition

is present throughout the legislative

process. The following are several measures that Representative Belatti

opposed during the 2011 legislative

session:

Increasing Motor Vehicle

Registration Fees (SB1328; Act 162). In-

creases the motor vehicle registration fee from

$25 to $45, and increases the portion deposited

into the State Highway Fund. (Passed House

31-8; Passed Senate 20-4; Enacted 6/23/11;

Effective 7/1/11.

Increasing Vehicle Weight Taxes (SB1329;

Act 86). Doubles or nearly doubles the vehicle

weight tax depending on weight of vehicle.

(Passed House 33-16; Passed Senate 22-2;

Enacted 6/8/11; Effective 7/1/11.)

Utilizing the Hurricane Relief Fund(SB1270; Act 62). Appropriates $42 million

from the hurricane reserve trust fund to the

general fund for purpose of balancing state

budget in scal year 2010-11. Authorizes

Governor to transfer additional moneys from

the hurricane fund to the general fund for the

purpose of balancing the state budget in scal

year 2010-11. Establishes a mechanism for

the automatic replenishment of the hurricane

reserve trust fund from general excise tax rev-

enues in scal years 2013-15. (Passed House

47-2; Passed Senate 24-1; Enacted & effective

5/26/11.)

Creating a Public Land Development Cor-

poration (SB1555; Act 55). Creates a develop-

ment arm of the Department of Land and Natu-

ral Resources to create recreation and leisure

areas for the public and visitors to our State.

Tasks this Public Land Development Corpora-

tion with administering an appropriate andculturally-sensitive public land development

program. (Passed House 40-9; Passed Senate

23-1; Enacted 5/20/11; Effective 7/1/11.)

Eliminating Hawaii’s Health Care External

Review Process (SB1274). Repeals Hawaii’s

current health care external review process of

health carrier’s adverse actions and amends

process to conform with federal Patient Protec-

tion and Affordable Care Act of 2010 when

rules and regulations under the federal health

care act have yet to be nalized. (Passed House

43-6; Passed Senate 23-1.)

Each year the Legislature ap-

propriates funding for impor-

tant capital improvement and

infrastructure projects through-

out the State. This year was

no different with District 25

schools and facilities receiving over $20 million in appropria-

tions as listed below.

Lincoln Elementary $200,000

Design & construction for air conditioning

Upgrades and Ground and Site Improvements

Washington Middle School $180,000

Design & construction for electrical upgrades

for the school kitchen, cafeteria & Building B.

Stevenson Middle School $7.2M

Plans, design & construction of multi-purpose

science learning center

Stevenson Middle School $11,370

Reroong project for administrative building

Roosevelt High School $1M

Design & construction to meet health & safety

requirements including Phase I of Fire Protec-

tion Plan & re hydrants.

Roosevelt High School $900,000

Renovation & upgrades of existing science

labs. Design & construction of new labs as

needed.

McKinley High School $5M

Plans, design & construction of synthetic

track & eld. Ground & site improve-

ments.

McKinley High School $950,000

Renovation & upgrades of existing

science labs. Design & construction

of new labs as needed.

McKinley High School $4,539

Improvements to Hirata Hall.

Papakolea Hawaiian $5M

Homestead Community

Sewer system upgrades.

Papakolea Hawaiian $250,000

Homestead Community

Design & construction for improvements to

Papakolea Community Development Center.

In addition to these funds, Governor Neil

Abercrombie has released $7,750,000 that was

previously appropriated for the design and con-

struction of the multi-purpose educational facil-

ity to support the science curriculum and pro-

gram at Stevenson Middle School. Beginning

in 2007, the Stevenson community initiated a

campus planning process that involved Steven-

son students, parents, faculty, and staff, as wellas neighbors and leaders of other area schools.

One of the primary outcomes of this campus

planning process was to design a facility to sup-

port Stevenson’s innovative plans to become

a Science Focused Middle School. Mahalo to

Governor Abercrombie for the release of these

funds to help the Stevenson community and her

students realize this dream!

d25news_05_summer2011

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