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IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL
Cayetano wants
By Richard Borreca
dental funds back
Star-BulletinGov. Ben Cayetano is asking the Legislature to restore $450,000 for the state's successful school dental hygiene program. He had originally asked the Legislature to scrap the 12-person program.
The announcement came at a news conference to announce that the administration was stepping up its campaign to fluoridate water in Hawaii.
Dr. Mark Greer, director of the Health Department's Dental Health Division, said no reason was given for cutting the program from Cayetano's budget, except that it was a "budgetary decision."
The program provides topical fluoride programs, dental screening in the public schools plus basic dental services for long-term care and mental health patients.
While the state was cutting the dental health program, Cayetano had joined the Health Department's campaign to fluoridate Hawaii's water.
Yesterday, Cayetano declared February "Children's Dental Health Month," saying it shouldn't be a "child's burden to lose their permanent teeth" to tooth decay because the water in Hawaii was not treated with fluoride.
Greer said the existing program that the state was going to cut treats 61,000 children and adults a year.
"The Legislature kept asking us, why is this program, which has been successful, being cut," Greer said.
Cayetano yesterday said he would ask the Legislature to restore the deleted funds because improvements in the state's economy mean tax collections will increase enough to pay for the program.
Senate’s education leader
By Crystal Kua
wants ‘accountability’
details within 3 years
Star-BulletinThe chairman of the state Senate Education Committee said yesterday he wants to see details of a public school accountability system be defined sooner rather than later.
Sen. David Ige said that's the reason he recommended that a bill establishing an accountability system continue to include language that would exempt such a system of rewards, assistance and sanctions based on student performance from collective bargaining. But that exemption would last for only three years.
"Our thinking on that would force the definition of accountability system to occur sooner rather than later," Ige said. "Our concern is that if we gave ... carte blanche exemption that essentially (the Department of Education) could take forever to try and figure out exactly what they wanted to do." Ige's committee and the Senate Labor Committee approved the bill yesterday with this and other changes.
Superintendent Paul LeMahieu has said details of an accountability system -- which is part of his standards-based reform -- should not be negotiated at the bargaining table.
LeMahieu also said he doesn't consider collective bargaining to be a collaborative process.
LeMahieu has said the bill before lawmakers would enable the department to go forward with establishing accountability but it doesn't yet have details. LeMahieu wants to work the details out with community groups that have a stake in the educational system. Public employee unions, which oppose the exemption, said accountability should be subject to collective bargaining because their members' hours, wages and working conditions could be affected.
The amendments to the bill would also require that the Department of Education implement a "collaborative process" that would include the labor unions as well as other groups -- such as parents -- who have a stake in the educational system but who don't currently have a voice in collective bargaining.
"The superintendent said he believes that he needs to develop a different structure to implement and define a process rather than negotiating," Ige said. "So, we're just ... mandating that they establish a process that includes representatives from the bargaining units and the other stakeholders."
Briefly...
House bill would raise minimum wage 50&CENT
Two House committees today approved an amended minimum wage bill that raises the state's minimum wage to $5.75 an hour from $5.25, but not until Jan. 1, 2003.
House Bill 2984 HD1 goes to the House Finance Committee for discussion.
House Labor Chairwoman Terry Nui Yoshinaga (D, Moiliili) said the 2-year deferral gives employers time to prepare for the raises.
Based on current economic signs, the economy should be better by then, she said.
Nevertheless, House Republicans criticized the measure, saying it will drive up employer costs. They say they don't understand how delaying it two years will help.
Rep. Jim Rath (R, Kailua-Kona) urged lawmakers not to look at it as an isolated 50-cent wage increase, saying it will force employers to give raises to workers who make more than the minimum wage to be fair.
This "stepping stone" of pay increases will add to an employer's fixed cost, which may result in the lowest-paid person on the job being laid off to offset the wage hikes, he said.
"This is just the wrong thing to do at this time," said Rath, who voted against the bill.
But Yoshinaga said the bill strikes a compromise for all.
There are those who need the wage hike to help them keep up with the cost of living, and the frail and needy are not always represented, she said.
The state House is considering a fireworks proposal from the Senate that allows the counties to issue permits for a maximum of 500 firecrackers each, to be used only for religious and cultural purposes on New Year's Day, Chinese New Year and the Fourth of July. House mulls fireworks proposal
State Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu) told House conferees last night the Senate has backed away from a total ban on fireworks. But it wants to limit fireworks sales only to the 24 hours before they can be legally set off.
The Senate also proposed stricter regulations on importing aerial fireworks, such as forfeiture of real property of anyone who is convicted of selling or offering to sell aerial fireworks.
Possession of aerial fireworks worth more than $300 also would be a Class C felony.
House Judiciary Chairman Eric Hamakawa (D, Hilo) said the House leadership made it a priority early in the session to resolve the fireworks issue, and will review the latest proposal. He expects the House to offer a counterproposal to the Senate within a week or two.
You can track bills, hearings and other Legislature action via: Get involved
The Legislative Reference Bureau's public access room, state Capitol, room 401. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Phone: 587-0478; fax, 587-0793; TTY, 538-9670.
Neighbor islanders, call toll-free and enter ext. 70478 after the number:
Big Island, 974-4000; Maui,
984-2400; Kauai, 274-3141;
Molokai and Lanai, 468-4644.
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