Hawaii lawmakers push hundreds of bills for major deadline

HONOLULU (AP) — It’s a busy day for Hawaii lawmakers who are considering most of the bills that have a chance at becoming law this year.

Lawmakers are working to pass hundreds of bills Tuesday to send from the House and Senate to the other chamber. All bills must be sent to the other chamber by Thursday to stay alive, which is almost the halfway point of the 2016 legislative session.

Hawaii lawmakers are trying to pass bills to build more affordable housing, ban the sale of ivory and restore Waikiki Beach. Several bills to increase gun restrictions like one to ban stalkers from buying firearms are also on the table, along with a handful of police accountability bills.

Here’s a sampling of bills that lawmakers passed Tuesday:

— CONVERSION THERAPY — There’s been a national trend to help LGBT youth, and Hawaii lawmakers in the Senate passed a bill to ban a hotly disputed treatment that aims to turn gay teens heterosexual on the basis that being gay is an illness. The bill would make it illegal for teachers or professional counselors to try to change someone’s sexual orientation.

— IVORY BAN — Animals rights organizations say Hawaii could become the largest ivory market in the U.S. if the market is left unregulated. A bill that passed the House would ban the sale of elephant ivory, as well as certain animal parts like tiger pelts and rhinoceros horn.

— COOL CLASSROOMS — Most of Hawaii’s public schools don’t have air conditioning, and record-high temperatures have left teachers and students saying they can’t focus because of the heat. A proposal would fund air conditioning for Hawaii Department of Education schools and expedite the process to get cooling systems installed in classrooms.

— MARIJUANA GREENHOUSES— Hawaii has some of the highest electricity costs in the nation, and potential marijuana business owners say they could save thousands of dollars in electricity costs growing marijuana with sunlight. A bill would allow dispensary owners to grow marijuana in greenhouses, which are currently against the rules. Dispensaries can open as soon as July.

— RAPE EVIDENCE — Many of police departments around the U.S. have untested evidence, and the Honolulu Police Department is no different. It has about 1,500 rape kits that haven’t been tested, so lawmakers are pushing a bill to require more reporting from law enforcement departments about the situation.

— POLICE BODY CAMERAS — Lawmakers are trying to figure out how to set up a system for police body cameras, which are seen by supporters as ways to protect both the public and the police during tense interactions. Some police departments oppose the bill, citing financial burdens and other problems. A bill passed out of the Senate would set up rules and requirements for wearing body cameras.

— SEX TRAFFICKING — The issue of sex trafficking became more of a priority at the Legislature this year after lawmakers heard about girls being recruited into the sex trade at local schools. A bill, HB1902, would separate minors who engage in sex work form adults in the industry, decriminalizing the activity for minors and instead offering support.

— INTER-ISLAND FERRY — It’s been several years since Hawaii had a ferry between islands, and many residents want an alternative to inter-island flights to visit other parts of the state. But there are many obstacles to stepping up a system, so the Senate passed a bill to require the state Department of Transportation to study what it would take to set one up.

— SUGAR PLANTATION WORKERS — Hawaii’s last sugar plantation, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co., is planning to end sugar operations this year, which will leave hundreds of Maui residents out of work. A proposal, SB3081, would give money for on-the-job training for plantation workers who will be left without a job.