Rep. Cedric Gates

Establishes a Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform in the Governor's Office to develop sentencing and corrections policies to reduce the State's incarcerated population. Allows the Commission to make recommendations on moving or constructing a correctional facility to comply with federal guidelines and to modernize to enhance effective rehabilitation programs. Requires the Commission to develop a plan to reduce spending on corrections and reinvest into strategies to increase public safety and reduce recidivism. (HB1295 HD1)

Establishes a Family Self-Sufficiency Program to provide matching funds to enable tenants of certain public housing dwelling units to purchase housing units. Authorizes the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to impose maximum rental periods and conditions of tenancy for tenants participating in the Family-Self Sufficiency Program. Amends general tenancy termination requirements, selection priorities and minimum rents for HPHA housing projects. Appropriates funds.

Authorizes a tax credit equal to 20% of qualifying business costs for the transportation of agricultural commodities between islands within the State of Hawaii. (HB1324 HD1)

Appropriates funds for the hiring of a coordinator and for interisland travel and operating expenses of the P-20 Agriculture Education Working Group within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Outlines the duties of the working group and opens participation in the working group to additional persons and entities.

Amends the offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree to include indigenous birds. (HB390 HD1)

Requires that a portion of conveyance tax revenues be deposited into the education design and construction project assessment fund.

Establishes the Hawaiian language university college as an autonomous entity within the University of Hawaii system to be located at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Implements an indigenous university college model by transferring the University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaiian language college's rights, duties, powers, and functions to the Hawaiian language university college. Mandates the Hawaiian language university college and University of Hawaii at Hilo to enter into a memorandum of agreement by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year to establish shared operations and administration.

Prohibits the use or application of sunscreen or sunblock containing oxybenzone or cosmetics with sunscreen containing oxybenzone while in a marine life conservation district.

Appropriates moneys to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for a study to be conducted in cooperation with the United States Army Corps of Engineers on the merits of acquiring Lake Wilson dam and spillway to upgrade the dam and develop pumped-storage hydroelectricity. Requires federal matching funds.

Establishes a community food forest program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work collaboratively with local government and community organizations to provide sources of healthy food statewide. Appropriate funds. (HB259 HD1)