Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

Governor Neil Abercrombie signed a number of bills into law on Monday.

Among the numerous items of state-wide interest, there was one bill of great significance to Hilo.

Senate Bill 1530, which authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend leases of public lands for hotel or resort, as long as the establishments make substantial improvements.

According to Hilo representative Jerry Chang, the legislation was written specifically for Banyan Drive hotels.

Meanwhile, new direct flights from Los Angeles and San Fransisco to Hilo are expected to pump an estimated $50 million into the island’s economy. On the night that the first flight in from LAX landed at ITO, Big Island Visitors Bureau Executive Director George Applegate said the hotel deal is very important to the coming tourism wave.

The office of the governor issued this summary of the other bills signed into law on Monday:

House Bill 688requires the Board of Education to monitor compliance with Department of Education rules or statutes covering bullying, cyberbullying, or harassment and to establish reporting requirements for the DOE.

House Bill 739 requires, among other things, that the primary caregiver be a certified nurse aide and the substitute caregiver be a nurse aide who has completed certain training in community care foster family homes approved for a maximum of three clients.

House Bill 761changes references in the Hawai’i Revised Statutes by substituting “intellectual disabilities” wherever the term “mental retardation” appears.

Senate Bill 11creates a taskforce to determine whether a new Department of the Sheriff is needed and feasible.

Senate Bill 45 repeals the civil service exemptions for the first and second deputy sheriffs.

Senate Bill 631 increases, with certain limitations, the areas within agricultural lands in which solar energy facilities may be constructed.

Senate Bill 1530 authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend leases of public lands for hotel or resort use upon approval of a proposed development agreement to make substantial improvements.

Senate Bill 1213establishes a temporary taskforce to review state and county administrative rules that could be amended to make the permitting and approval process less burdensome.

House Bill 985 allows a procurement officer to submit a single bid for the design and construction of a project and adds a new definition to the procurement code designated as “design-build.”

House Bill 320 exempts the requirement for a license realtor who provides opinions on the estimated price on real estate to obtain a license as an appraiser.

Senate Bill 98amends the Hawai’i Water Carrier Act to clarify the authority of the Hawai’i Public Utilities Commission to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to a water carrier.

Governor Abercrombie has enacted 221 bills so far. The deadline for Governor Abercrombie to sign or veto bills passed in the last legislative session is tomorrow, July 12, 2011.