Updated at 1:20 p.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Superferry special session convened

Advertiser Staff

Hundreds attend a public hearing held by the state Senate this morning at the start of a special session to consider legislation that would allow the Hawaii Superferry to operate. RICHARD AMBO I The Honolulu Advertiser   State Sen. J. Kalani English organizes some of the 3,800 testimonials that were submitted to the Senate as part of today's public hearing on Hawaii Superferry. RICHARD AMBO I The Honolulu Advertiser

The state House and Senate convened in special session this morning in preparation to hear bills on Hawaii Superferry and extended sentencing in criminal cases.

Shortly after 9 a.m. both chambers held brief, procedural sessions then adjourned for the day.

A Senate hearing on the Superferry bill got under way at about 10:50 this morning and is expected to continue through most of the day in the state Capitol auditorium.

The House will hold a hearing on the Superferry bill at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Senators this morning have already been circulating amendments to the bill related to operating conditions on the ferry, while Superferry executives and their lobbyists, working with the state Attorney General, are looking to alter language in the bill shielding the state from liability for delays to ferry service.