HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers plan to tackle the state’s troubled health exchange, public housing issues and a slew of resolutions this week at the Legislature. Most of the action will be in committee rooms as lawmakers take up bills passed by the other chamber.
One proposal seeks to help the Hawaii Health Connector maintain its operations by allowing the organization to issue $28 million in debentures, a type of bond backed by the state. A similar proposal died in the House, because of concerns about the funding mechanism and the dollar amount.
Now, the Senate-backed proposal, SB 1028, is in the House. A joint panel of House committee members will hear the proposal on Monday afternoon.
Here are a few other items coming up this week in the Legislature:
Aloha, China
Hawaii has done a lot to cater to Japanese tourists, and some people feel the state could do more to accommodate visitors from China. A Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Tourism Authority to work with the hospitality industry to create a more welcoming climate for growing market of Chinese tourists. SR 35 will be heard in a Senate committee Monday afternoon.
Lurking bosses
A proposal to prevent employers from requiring their charges to provide logins and passwords to their social networking accounts has passed the House. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor will hear HB 561 on Monday morning.
Affordable housing
A House resolution asks the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to work with the University of Hawaii to come up with a plan for the equitable distribution of affordable housing units on Oahu. The House Committee on Housing will take up HR 110 Monday morning.
Disappearing beaches
Lawmakers want to slow down the degradation of Hawaii’s beaches and they’ve come up with a plan to use transient accommodation tax revenues to restore the shores. A joint committee hearing will take up HB 444 Monday afternoon.