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250 measures
to be voted on
next week
Civil service reform and
gun control are
key issuesRundown on the crossover
By Richard Borreca
Star-BulletinWith small steps, little money to spend and an impatient electorate looking for results, the state Legislature is reaching its first major deadline.
Large-scale programs or costly new initiatives have been forgotten this year as House and Senate members readied about 250 bills for their first test vote next week.
Legislators say they are delivering on Gov. Ben Cayetano's call for civil service reform, although the current versions of their bills have been criticized by both reformers and the leaders of the unions whose members would be affected.
"The total package is not set in concrete," House Speaker Calvin Say said last night. "There is a chance for change and more input all around."
In the Senate, Republican Sen. Sam Slom says the Senate version of civil service reform has much to offer.
"If we pass this legislation, this is what this session will be known for. It is significant," Slom said.
Instead of carving out new public policy, legislators have made incremental changes to established laws. For instance, the Senate is thinking about lower campaign spending limits, meaning politicians will have to raise money from more people instead of smaller groups of select power brokers.
The Senate also is on track to tighten Hawaii's already stringent gun control laws, including what is thought to be the first requirement for periodic re-registration of handguns.
In the House, Say reported agreement on a site for a prison on the Big Island, at King's Landing near Hilo Airport.
The promise to pick a site for a prison in Hawaii, instead of moving prisoners to a mainland prison, was a key part of Say's opening-day speech. The Senate, however, has not agreed on a specific site.
Final agreement, in fact, is far from certain on any of the measures under consideration next week.
IN AND AROUND THE CAPITOL
Lawmakers move as
By Pat Omandam, Richard Borreca
deadline looms
and Rosemarie BernardoStar-Bulletin
WHILE the state Legislature this week dealt with the Rice vs. Cayetano court decision, its immediate focus was next week's first crossover deadline to swap bills between the House and Senate.
Civil service reform: With amended versions in the Senate and House, Gov. Ben Cayetano's civil service reform package is alive, but it is uncertain what kind of meaningful reform will emerge in late April.
A bill requiring guns be stored in a locked safe was killed because it was too difficult to enforce.
Two other amendments that remain alive would give the University of Hawaii autonomy in all matters related to the university and allow a nonvoting military member on the Board of Education.
A hate-crimes bill provides for extended terms for a criminal offender who selects victims because of hostility to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, transgender, sexual orientation, age or disability.
Hawaii is one of 12 states without specific hate-crime legislation.
Today Senate candidates can collect up to $4,000 per donor and gubernatorial candidates can take $6,000 from each donor. The new measure would limit all candidates to only $2,000 per donor.
Reformers see the plan as a more viable alternative to a bill to publicly fund campaigns, starting with a City Council demonstration project in 2002.
You can track bills, hearings and other Legislature action via: Get involved
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.
Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes
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