Current Government Action Committee Priorities for 2007

County Affordable Housing & Rentals Planning Department Issues Water Issues & Rates Assessments (i.e. park fees, etc.) County Budget Real Property Tax Land Uses State Transportation Harbors Certificate of Need Process Workers Compensation TORT Reform County Legislative Action Listed below are the legislative actions that the Maui Chamber of Commerce has been involved with at the County level in 2007. Activities are listed in order of action taken, with older actions at the beginning of the list and the most recent actions at the end of the list. Continuous monitoring of bills. Provided testimony for two General Plan Advisory Committee meetings, urging the committee not to draft a letter which requests that until after the General Plan process has been completed and the new general plan is adopted (which will take years), that all new large developments will not be approved, except for those with ___% (at one point 100% and later reduce to 50%) “affordable housing” and perhaps those projects already having complete community plan designation. This initiative circumvented the General Plan process and established plans, could further delay the development of affordable housing, appeared to be outside of the committee’s scope, and was delaying progress in moving forward with the General Plan. Support for West Maui Hospital and Related Ancillary Medical Facilities (Lahaina) as it falls under the Chamber’s position statement on additional health care services and facilities. Provided testimony at the County Council Planning Committee hearing of March 13, 2007, requesting that the General Plan Advisory Committee expeditiously move forward with the General Plan and offering the Chamber’s support in informing the community about General Plan activities and opportunities for the public to get involved through Chamber communication vehicles. Initial support with comments on a Draft Bill for an Ordinance Amending Chapter 3.35 of the Maui County Code, Pertaining to the Affordable Housing Fund (initial draft deals with the administration and use of this fund which will primarily be funded by 2% of gross real property tax revenues due to the passage of Charter Amendment No. 2 which the Chamber supported). Comments included asking that the fund be renamed to include Affordable Rentals, that it provide consistent language throughout the bill to include both affordable housing and rentals, that it include provisions for the County to partner with the private sector and contract with private entities to create affordable housing solutions (in addition to working with nonprofits and community land trusts), and that it continue to review and evaluate the deed restriction as the language proposed has previously been challenged. This bill was deferred to June to allow for revision. It will be further reviewed by our Government Action Committee. State Legislative Action Listed below are the legislative actions that the Maui Chamber of Commerce has been involved with at the State level in 2007. Activities are listed in order of action taken, with older actions at the beginning of the list and the most recent actions at the end of the list. Continuous monitoring of bills. Supported House Bill 1268 Relating to Innovation in Education. This bill seeks to create a comprehensive system of STEM academics and pre-academics that will focus on developing STEM skills in Hawaii’s school children. It increases the quality of STEM teaching in Hawaii’s schools through enhanced professional development opportunities for practicing teachers and attracting highly qualified people with STEM degrees to the teaching profession, establishes endowed chairs in STEM disciplines who bring increased research projects, increases opportunities for high school and college students to gain experience through internships, and increases the number of high school graduates seeking degrees or certificates in STEM disciplines by providing scholarships to accredited institutions of higher education. Support of HB 1630 Relating to support for the Project EAST program which provides our island students with a project-based, service learning atmosphere that helps to create mature, responsible, and technically savvy young adults with essential skills for them to succeed in today’s workforce environment. Opposed House Bill 702 Relating to the Hawaii Superferry and changes to current law regarding an EIS for harbor improvements. This bill asks to halt the Hawaii Superferry until an environmental impact study is done and accepted. Bill opposed as it unfairly requires one harbor user, who has acted within the law, to do an EIS after it was determined by federal and state governments and the courts that an EIS was not required; as it limits transportation choices; as it sends an anti-business message; and as Kahului Harbor will receive an EIS with the Harbor Master Plan. Supported Senate Bill 844 Relating to Sustainability. This bill seeks to create a comprehensive system of STEM academics and pre-academics that will focus on developing STEM skills in Hawaii’s school children. It increases the quality of STEM teaching in Hawaii’s schools through enhanced professional development opportunities for practicing teachers and attracting highly qualified people with STEM degrees to the teaching profession, establishes endowed chairs in STEM disciplines who bring increased research projects, increases opportunities for high school and college students to gain experience through internships, and increases the number of high school graduates seeking degrees or certificates in STEM disciplines by providing scholarships to accredited institutions of higher education. Support of HB 180 Relating to increased funding for the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network. Support for HB 1479 HD 2 Requiring group health insurers to offer all group health plans to self-employed individuals in their services areas. Allows insurer to impose limitations on the timing of enrollment and re-enrollment to control adverse selection and plan member costs. This bill will help to reduce health insurance costs for sole proprietors and small businesses. Opposed SB 1276 (in its various draft forms, including the latest draft, SD 3) Relating to the Hawaii Superferry. While the language of the bill has been revised, the net affect is still the same and our position remains the same. Opposed Young Brothers proposed rate increase for Less Than Container Load shipping services of 24.7% at the PUC Hearing on Maui. Also delivered testimony from both our Made In Maui and Small Business Committees and our Chairman, Myles Kawakami, on behalf of Hawaii Carpet One/Hawaiian Ceramic Tile who also oppose the rate increase. Support efforts to exempt Malulani Health & Medical Center from the Certificate of Need process. The House & Senate bills have not moved forward. Support HB 1067 HD 2 Seeks to overhaul the Certificate of Need (CON) process by, among other things: 1) redefining and narrowing the scope of the CON requirements so that they are only required for emergency rooms, free standing emergency care facilities, and surface ambulance services; 2) eliminating the CON review panel to streamline the CON process; and 3) establishing a temporary blue ribbon panel to conduct a comprehensive study to examine the CON process in other states and submit a report containing its recommendations. Support for Transportation Bills: HB 1605 - Traffic Control Center—Appropriates funds for the design of a Maui traffic control center. HB 1608 - Traffic Emergency Zones—Allows for the establishment of traffic emergency zones to provide emergency highway access and speed up road projects to designated areas. (Note: Ask that state ensure that measures are taken to protect land owners who would aid the state in emergency situations.) HB 1609 - SMA Waiver for Highway Improvements—Excludes repairs or maintenance to existing state highways from county special management area permit requirements when the repair is necessary to preserve or regain the integrity of the road or highway. This will allow the department of transportation to initiate road projects immediately.