Capitol briefs
Advertiser Staff
Racers may see cars seized sooner
Law enforcement officials could seize the vehicles of repeat racing offenders or their parents' cars, under a bill approved by the Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee yesterday.
Senate Bill 85, which will now go to the Senate floor, would allow the court to confiscate the vehicles of offenders who have had a previous racing conviction within the past five years. Under the bill, racing would mean exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph.
If the offender is a minor and used his or her parents' vehicle in the racing offenses, that vehicle could be confiscated as well, according to the bill.
Current law allows for the forfeiture of a vehicle on the third offense, and forfeiture is limited to vehicles owned by the offender.
Committee OKs elder abuse fines
The state attorney general would be able to seek civil penalties for the abuse or neglect of a dependent elderly person, under a bill approved by the Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee yesterday.
Under Senate Bill 78, a caregiver sued by the attorney general and found liable for the abuse or neglect of the dependent elder would be subject to a civil penalty of between $500 and $1,000 for each day that the abuse occurred, as well as the costs of the investigation.
Senate Bill 78 now goes to the Senate floor.
Changes at BOE face full Senate
The Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday approved a bill calling for a state Board of Education composed of elected and appointed members, as well the creation of seven appointed regional education boards.
Senate Bill 667 would create a state Board of Education made up of seven elected members and six members appointed by the governor as opposed to the current 13 elected members.
It also would create seven regional education agencies to handle duties such as prioritizing repairs and maintenance projects, planning and carrying out educational services and managing resources. The agencies would be governed by boards of directors appointed by the governor, and would be administered by regional superintendents who would be appointed by the boards.
The bill now goes to the Senate floor.
4 Lingle nominees set for final OK
The nominations of four key members to Gov. Linda Lingle's Cabinet have cleared various committees and will move on to the Senate floor for final confirmation.
Budget Director Georgina Kawamura, in the spotlight because of Lingle's plan to balance the state's wobbly budget without the use of $175 million in principal from the Hawai'i Hurricane Relief Fund, got the nod Wednesday from the Ways and Means Committee.
The others are Agriculture Director Sandra Lee Kunimoto, who was approved by the Water, Land Agriculture Committee; Labor Director Nelson Befitel, who advanced out of the Labor Committee; and Human Services Director Lillian Koller, who moved out of the Human Services Committee.
Drinking bill approved
Adults responsible for parties at which a minor gets drunk and injures someone could be held liable, under a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee.
Senate Bill 1234 would give victims injured by intoxicated minors the right to collect compensation from adults who reasonably should have known the minors were drinking alcohol at their home.
"The concern is to send a very clear message that we as a society do not condone underage drinking," said Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha).
"Something's got to be done, and the only way you're going to be able to do it is to cut it at the source and make them responsible."
