Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges state education agencies to create clear pathways for high school students in career and technical education academies to easily transfer to University of Hawaii community college programs. The bill asks the Department of Education, the University of Hawaii Community Colleges, and Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education to work together to map out how students can move from high school training into college courses and eventually into jobs. Specific actions include developing these educational routes, using Hawaii P-20 to align job requirements with education levels, and publishing the new pathways online for public access. While the resolution does not mandate immediate changes, it formally requests these organizations to improve coordination between the two systems to support student success.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution requests the University of Hawaii at Manoa to create a comprehensive plan for addressing housing shortages for students and faculty on campus. The bill specifically asks the university to develop a new business model that could include public-private partnerships to make housing financially sustainable and to redevelop the closed Hale Noelani facility to provide at least 1,500 beds. Additionally, the university is asked to propose a strategy for offering financial assistance to low-income residents and to submit a detailed report with financing options to the Legislature by early 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to study how teacher salary increases affect pay compression, where experienced educators earn the same as less experienced ones. The study will examine current pay structures and analyze how step movements influence this issue to provide recommendations for improving teacher retention and satisfaction. The department is also asked to work with education leaders and submit a report with findings and potential policy changes to the Legislature by early 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the University of Hawaii at Manoa to create a comprehensive plan for addressing housing needs for students and faculty on campus. The bill asks the university to develop a strategy that includes redeveloping the closed Hale Noelani facility to provide at least 1,500 beds and establishing a new business model that could utilize public-private partnerships to ensure financial sustainability. Additionally, the resolution directs the university to propose a method for offering housing allowances to low-income residents and requires a report detailing these plans to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Department of Human Resources Development to survey organizations across for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors about their successful remote, hybrid, or telework programs. The bill aims to gather information on how these arrangements can help address Hawaii's high housing costs and workforce shortages by identifying jobs that can be performed from lower-cost areas. Additionally, the resolution suggests that the state should invest in broadband infrastructure and co-working spaces to support workers who wish to remain in their local communities. By studying these practices, the legislature hopes to create a strategy that pairs remote work opportunities with affordable housing and sustainable transportation options.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to investigate the causes of the August 2023 Maui wildfires, which resulted in over one hundred deaths and were likely started by a downed utility pole. The bill also calls on the commission to enforce existing laws requiring electric utilities to submit and implement robust wildfire mitigation plans. Additionally, it requests that the commission proactively regulate utilities to ensure safe and reliable power delivery, including implementing reliability standards and accelerating renewable energy procurement to replace aging fossil fuel plants. The resolution further asks the commission to make public information from a recent briefing regarding grid outages and to submit a report of its findings to the Legislature by March 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges state agencies to require households affected by the 2023 Lahaina wildfires to use their insurance coverage before applying for state financial aid. The measure aims to preserve limited public funds by ensuring that available insurance benefits are utilized first for temporary housing and other disaster-related expenses. While the bill does not mandate this requirement by law, it encourages departments to guide residents through the claims process and reserve state resources for those who have exhausted all other options.

Requires the counties to issue affordable housing credits for affordable housing units that are constructed under the various programs of the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Sunsets 7/1/2031. (CD1)

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the creation of special license plates to honor Duke Kahanamoku, a celebrated Hawaiian figure. It allows the state to issue these commemorative plates to vehicle owners who wish to display them. The legislation does not mandate participation but provides the legal framework for the Department of Transportation to produce and distribute these plates.

Amends the functions and duties of the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Clarifies the definition of "health care". Establishes a task force known as the Hui Hoomana. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)